This document discusses the key terms of reference, principles, and priorities that guide Philippine foreign policy. It outlines the Constitution and national interests as the basis for an independent foreign policy. It also examines various flashpoints and challenges facing Philippine foreign affairs, including efforts to resolve insurgencies, combat terrorism, and address territorial disputes. Environmental issues and sustainable development are also discussed as important considerations in Philippine diplomacy.

1. The State of
Philippine Foreign
Affairs
Ronald M Joves, MNSA
22 September 2007
Philippine Foreign Affairs (IS-39)

2. The terms of reference of
Philippine foreign policy
 The Constitution
 National Interests

3. The 1987 Philippine
Constitution
 The State shall pursue and
independent foreign policy. In its
relations with other states, the
paramount consideration shall be
national sovereignty, territorial
integrity, national interests, and the
right to self-determination
(Section 7, Article II).

4. The National Interests
 The sum total of all national economic,
political, socio-cultural, techno-
scientific, and environmental goals.
 The very core of foreign policy
formulation and implementation.
 Without national interests, the country
will be in a state of flux.

5. Charting Future Directions:
The “835” Approach
 The Eight Realities
 The Three Pillars
 The Five Dimensions

6. The Eight Realities: 1, 2, 3
 The determining influence of
China, Japan, and the US in the
security and economic evolution in
East Asia.
 Foreign policy decisions within the
ASEAN context.
 The importance of the international
Islamic community.

7. The Eight Realities: 4, 5, 6
 The dependence on foreign
investments.
 The role of multilateral and inter-
regional organizations in securing
common interests.
 The defense of sovereignty and
protection of environment and natural
resources.

8. The Eight Realities: 7 & 8
 The benefits derived international
tourism and strength of human
resources.
 The crucial role of overseas Filipino
workers.

9. The Three Pillars of PFA
 National Security
 Development Diplomacy
 Overseas Filipino Workers

10. The Five Dimensions
 Political
 Economic
 Socio-Cultural
 Techno-Scientific
 Environmental
 Military

11. The 835 Approach …
 Determines the course of action taken
by decision-makers
 Decisions are made on the basis of
what looms large in the radar screen
of Philippine affairs
 Juxtaposed with National Interests

12. 8 + 3 + 5 = Ideal FP

13. Foreign Policy
Responses in the
Macapagal-Arroyo
Administration

14. The Contending Views
 The decisions were criticized.
 The decisions were
controversial and
unconventional.
 The decisions have put the
country close to harm’s way.

15. The Contending Views
 The decisions or initiatives
were bold and trailblazing.
 The decisions enabled the
country to gain political and
economic advantages and
opportunities.

16. Whether they were
controversial or bold, the aim
of the State was to address
what it considered a matter of
national interest.

17. Foreign policy responses
conditioned and influenced by
 Domestic and international
terrorism
 Transnational issues
 Insurgency and separatist
movements
 Growing incidence of poverty

18. Step taken by the Foreign
Office
 Seek a permanent solution to
problems in southern Philippines and
the insurgency problem
 Combat terrorism
 Resolve the South China Sea issue
 Cooperate in multilateral forums to
establish peace and development

19. Step taken by the Foreign
Office
 Cooperate in multilateral forums to
establish regional peace and
development
 Participation in the Coalition of the
Willing
 Active participation in the United
Nations and other international
organizations.

20. Seeking a lasting peaceful
solution to the MILF and CPP-
NPA-NDF problems and
combating threats posed by the
Abu Sayyaf and other terrorist
groups

21. Seeking a lasting solution…
 The most visible and gripping issue
faced by the State.
 The issue has festered the State since
the Marcos Administration.
 Assistance was sought from the
Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC)

22. Seeking a lasting solution…
 The Aquino Administration freed all
political detainees
 The Ramos Administration forged a
peace agreement with the Moro
National Liberation Front of Chairman
Nur Misuari.
 The Estrada Administration launched
an all-out military offensive in
Mindanao.

23. Seeking a lasting solution…
 The Arroyo Administration sought a
holistic approach in the quest for a
lasting solution.
 A humanitarian offensive alongside a
military offensive.
 Forged a Final Peace Agreement with
both the MILF and the CPP-NPA-NDF

24. Festering controversy
 Does the involvement of
foreign countries encourage
the interference in the domestic
affairs of State?

25. Festering controversy
 Foreign countries aided local
insurgents by providing
weapons, ammunition, cash to
advance the cause of their local
brothers and comrades.

26. The re-channeling of assistance
 With the help of foreign countries,
support to local insurgents have
dramatically diminished.
 Foreign assistance now channeled to
socio-economic programs and projects
for the greater advantage of the
affected civilians.
 Prevented the spawning of new
groups.

27. The re-channeling of assistance
 The Visiting Forces Agreement
addresses the training and
modernization of the AFP in
combating terrorism and threats to
national security.
 The US Institute of Peace and USAID
committed funds in support of quality
education and sustainable
microfinance to former rebels.

28. Combating
Terrorism

29. September 11, 1991 a.k.a. 9/11
 Altered the political
landscape and historical
course of the world.
 Impacted on foreign policy
priorities.

30. September 11, 1991 a.k.a. 9/11
 President Arroyo was first Asian to
throw its support in the call to combat
global terrorism.
 The State exerted efforts to strengthen
political and security cooperation to
reduce local threat and reinforce
regional cooperation.

31. September 11, 1991 a.k.a. 9/11
 Bilateral counter-terrorism agreements
were concluded with the United
States, Australia, and Russia.
 Regional agreements were likewise
concluded with
ASEAN, ASEM, APEC, and the UN.

32. The ASEAN, ARF, ASEAN+3

33. The ASEAN, ARF, ASEAN+3
 ASEAN is the cornerstone of
Philippine foreign policy
 ASEAN is the political core
of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation

34. The ASEAN, ARF, ASEAN+3
 The ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) is a venue for the
Philippines to dialogue with 21
countries on
development, economic, political, a
nd security issues.

35. The ASEAN, ARF, ASEAN+3
 The Philippines takes the lead in
ASEAN in areas of good
governance, human rights, human
resource development, transnational
issues, poverty alleviation, financial
reform, maritime cooperation, socio-
economic cooperation, and
information technology.

36. Regional Peace
and Security

37. The Flashpoints of
Philippine foreign affairs

38. The Flashpoints
 The Philippines hopes to promote
regional peace by espousing conflict
resolution and prevention through
confidence building measures (CBMs)
 CBMs include the Declaration of
Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea signed by ASEAN and China

39. Flashpoint #1

40. The Korean Peninsula
 The vestige of the Cold War era.
 The remaining “Wall or Curtain”
between the East and West Conflict.
 Stems from the continued nuclear
program initiated by North Korea.
 The Philippines actively involved in the
ASEAN’s “Six Party Talks.”

41. Flashpoint #2

42. The Taiwan Straits
 The One-China Policy with Taiwan
(Chinese Taipei) as a renegade
province under PROC sovereignty.
 The current Kuomintang leadership
are Taiwan-born, thus fueling local
nationalism and independence.
 Formal declaration of independence
could result in a PROC offensive.

43. Flashpoint #3

44. The South China Sea
 The flashpoint closest to home.
 The contested Kalayaan Island Group
(KIG) is only a few nautical miles off
Palawan.
 The flashpoint stems from overlapping
claims of neighboring states.

45. The South China Sea
 The Philippine stake on the SCS is
great due to potential oil and gas
deposits in the water.
 More importantly, the Philippines must
first settle the issue of adherence
between the Treaty of Paris and
UNCLOS.

49. Flashpoint #4

50. The India-Pakistan Conflict
 Stems from ethno-religious animosity
between the two states.
 The battle space of the conflict lies in
Kashmir over accession issue in 1947.
 Regional Nuclear Arms Race: A mini
US-USSR rivalry sans resources.

51. Coalition of the Willing
 Guided by twin desire:
to ensure immediate and long-term
safety of Filipinos in the Middle East
and
to deprive terrorists of the ability to
use or threaten the use of weapons
of mass destruction

52. Coalition of the Willing
UNSC Resolution 1472 of 28 March
2003 which states that the UN “calls
on the international community to
provide immediate humanitarian
assistance to the people of Iraq….”

53. Coalition of the Willing
 The case of Angelo De La Cruz put
to the balance international
commitments as against national
interest
 The withdrawal of Philippine
contingent caused a stir both locally
and internationally
 A classic example of the primordial
value of human life, particularly of a
Filipino life, prevailing over an
international commitment

54. An Inconvenient Truth:
Addressing Environmental
Concerns in the Philippine
Foreign Affairs

55. The Keystone: Sustainable
Development
 Development that meets the
needs of the present without
compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their
own needs (WCED 1987).

56. The Keystone: Sustainable
Development
 Entails social and structural economic
transformations which optimize the
economic and societal benefits
available in the present, without
jeopardizing or compromising the
likely potential for similar benefits in
the future.

57. The Keystone: Sustainable
Development
 Providing a quality of life that is
sustained from generation-to-
generation.
 Ensuring the survival of all species
within the biosphere even those that
do not benefit the human life form.

58. http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=12148 Retrieved 21 September 2007

59. The International
Agreements

60. The Kyoto Protocol
 Amendment to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change
 Sets mandatory emission limitations
for the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions to the signatory nations
 The Philippines ratified the agreement
on 16 February 2005

61. The Montreal Protocol
 A landmark agreement designed to
protect the stratospheric ozone layer.
 Stipulates the production and
consumption of compounds that
deplete the ozone in the
stratosphere, e.g., CFCs
 Ratified by the Philippines on 17 July
1991

62. The Rio Declaration
 Also known as the Earth Summit
 Adopted in Stockholm on 18 June
1972
 Intended to guide future sustainable
development around the world
 Translated in Philippine context into
the Philippine Agenda 21

63. Blue Print for Sustainable
Development:
Philippine Agenda 21

64. Philippine Agenda 21
 In line with the World Summit on
Sustainable Development which was held
in Johannesburg a decade after the Rio
Summit,
 Identified 5 priority environmental issues:
 water supply and sanitation
 Energy
 Biodiversity
 Poverty Alleviation and Health
 Desertification.

65. Philippine Agenda 21
 Envisions a better quality of life for
all, through the development of a
just, moral, creative, spiritual, economically-
vibrant, caring, diverse yet cohesive society
 Characterized by appropriate
productivity, participatory and democratic
processes, and living in harmony within the
limits of the carrying capacity of nature and
the integrity of creation.

66. Philippine
Legislations on
the Environment

67. Philippine Legislations
 Responses of the Legislative Branch
to address environmental concerns
locally and internationally.
 Aids in providing an atmosphere
conducive to foreign investments.
 Stands as a testimony to the State’s
commitment to international
obligations.

68. Philippine Legislations
 The Clean Air Act
 The National Integrated Protected
Areas Systems (NIPA) Act
 The Conservation and Protection of
Wildlife and Their Habitats Act
 The Ecological Waste Management
Act
 The Toxic Substances and Hazardous
and Nuclear Wastes Act

69. Conclusion
 The Cold War is over
 No more brinkmanship and East-West
tension
 In a sense, diplomacy seemed easier
and more manageable then.
 Everything was either black or white.

70. Conclusion
 There is only one superpower
 Peace and security remains elusive
 Who is now the “enemy or enemies of
the State?”
 Is it another State? A person? A
contentious issue? A natural
phenomenon? Or an ill-timed, ill-
advised decision?

71. One thing is certain
 In this Global, Transnational Age, acts
or decisions made by one State can
have tremendous and implications
impact not only locally, but more
importantly, internationally.
 States need to formulate policies that
are responsive to the current reality
and needs.

72. The take of the Philippines
 The Philippines should carefully
balance its international commitment
with what it identifies as its national
interests.
 Between the two, the primordial
concern ought to be the promotion and
protection of national interests.

73. Up next….
 The Threats and Opportunities of
Philippine Foreign Affairs
 Philippine Foreign Policy and the
Universal Good: The Ethical, Ideal
Perspective in a Global Age

74. Principal Sources
 Philippine Diplomacy in the 21st
Century, Conference Proceedings, 28
November 2003 (April 2004). Makati:
Hanns Seidel Foundation
 Almonte, Jose T. New Directions and
Priorities in Philippine Foreign
Relations (1998). Asia Society.

75. Shukran, Habibi!

76. The Decision-Making Process
<http://www.geocities.com/cfidarren/crmfund.htm> Retrieved 20 September 2007