The Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress, with the support of the Philippine Office of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, organized a Track Two Observer Discussion Forum to look back at the recent developments in the South China Sea and how other claimant states, specifically Vietnam and Malaysia, have responded to thorny issues with other states, as well as their perspectives and expectations in the ongoing discussions for the COC.
The Board of Trustees grieves the loss of APPFI’s Founding President, Dr. Aileen San Pablo-Baviera, one of the eminent Sinologists in the Philippines. The news of her death brought in an outpouring of condolences from her associates around the world, expressing their sorrow for the departure of a colleague known for her commitment, excellence and humility.
Experts and stakeholders came together in a Track Two Observer webinar to confer on the latest developments on Philippines international defense and security engagements. Highlighted during the discussion are the Duterte administration’s independent foreign policy and defense strategy in the midst of a pandemic.
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase with no foreseeable end in sight, Southeast Asian states have been struggling to stem the spread of the virus among their population, with mixed results. As countries that were initially successful in containing the outbreak now face a second wave of infections, the international community now realizes that cooperation and support are necessary to successfully combat COVID-19 and minimize its toll on people and the global economy.