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 Myanmar |  Philippines |
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Myanmar and the Philippines are both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Formal bilateral and diplomatic relations of both countries established in September 1956. [1] Myanmar has an embassy in Manila and the Philippines maintains its embassy in (Yangoon) and later Rangoon.
Relations between Myanmar and the Philippines existed before the colonial era. In the 1400s-1500s, historian William Henry Scott, quoting the Portuguese manuscript Summa Orientalis, noted that Mottama in Burma (Myanmar) had a large presence of merchants from Mindanao. [2] Likewise, during the Burmese-Siamese Wars. Burma (Myanmar) employed the military services of mercenaries from Luzon who were called Lucoes. Burmese traders also traded in the Hindu Rajahnate of Cebu in the Visayas islands at the Philippines, as they exchanged Burmese sugar for Cebuano gold.
The Philippines was one of the Asian countries most critical of Myanmar's military junta prior to its moves toward democracy in 2011, due to similar experience between the two nations ruled under military juntas of Ne Win and Ferdinand Marcos. [3]
Myanmar and the Philippines strengthen their ties particularly in business and economy. Vice President Jejomar Binay, representing President Benigno Aquino III. Burmese President Thein Sein at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit held on 2012 in New Delhi. The Philippines agreed to assist in the development of Myanmar's agriculture sector through the introduction of rice and banana technologies. [1] In 2012, Myanmar is poised to reap real trade benefits from neighboring countries and the Philippines where a bilateral trade meeting to strengthen economic ties. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario meets Foreign Secretary Wunna Maung Lwin in Naypyitaw. The visit of del Rosario brought the relations of the two countries closer. The Philippines now supports the lifting of economic sanctions against Myanmar. [4]
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, the Philippines has been open in receiving Rohingya refugees fleeing from Myanmar. Both the administration of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III [5] and Rodrigo Duterte has pledged support to receive refugees with the latter offering to give Filipino citizenship to the Rohingya. [6]
In 2018, Myanmar criticized Duterte's characterization of the situation as a genocide while in response the Philippines issued an apology to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and said the relevant remark was critical to European nations criticizing the human rights situation without extending help to Myanmar. [6] Earlier in January 2018, Duterte has advised the Myanmar leader to ignore criticism on her country's human rights situation. [7] A joint Japanese and Filipino team of former diplomats was also formed to investigate alleged human rights violations in relation to the crisis. [8]
Under the Duterte administration, the Philippines voted against a 2017 United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the human rights situation in Myanmar and a 2018 United Nations Human Rights Council resolution which extended the mandate of a UN international fact finding team probing alleged human rights violations in Myanmar. [9]
Philippine Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario urged Myanmar's roadmap to democracy, which he said is crucial. Del Rosario conveyed to Myanmar's Foreign Minister Lwin appeal to free the more than 2,000 political prisoners. [10]
Historically strained, Myanmar's foreign relations, particularly with Western nations, have improved since 2012. Relations became strained once more in 2017 with the Rohingya genocide and due to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. Myanmar has generally maintained warmer relations with near states and is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is the executive department of the Philippine government tasked to contribute to the enhancement of national security, protection of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty, to participate in the national endeavor of sustaining development and enhancing the Philippines' competitive edge, to protect the rights and promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas and to mobilize them as partners in national development, to project a positive image of the Philippines, and to increase international understanding of Philippine culture for mutually-beneficial relations with other countries.
The Philippines–United States relations refers to the bilateral and diplomatic relations of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America. The relationship between the United States and the Philippines has been historically strong; often described as a "special relationship," originating from the fact that the Philippines was a colony of the United States between 1898 and 1946. The former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, however, was supportive of a foreign policy that was less dependent on the United States, favoring one that prioritized closer relations with China and Russia, despite the Philippines and the U.S. having a mutual defense treaty dating from 1951 to the present. In 2014, the countries signed an enhanced defense cooperation agreement that began its first phase of implementation in 2019.
U.S. President Barack Obama's East Asia Strategy (2009–2017), also known as the Pivot to Asia, represented a significant shift in the foreign policy of the United States since the 2010s. It shifted the country's focus away from the Middle Eastern and European sphere and allowed it to invest heavily and build relationships in East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, especially countries which are in close proximity to the People's Republic of China (PRC) either economically, geographically or politically to counter its rise as a rival superpower.
Bilateral relations between China and the Philippines have significantly progressed in recent years, peaking during the Philippine presidencies of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Rodrigo Duterte. However, relations have become increasingly tense due to territorial disputes in the South China Sea, particularly since the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff; in 2013, the Philippine government under President Benigno Aquino III in 2013 filed an arbitration case at The Hague against China over China's expansive maritime claims. The policy of current Philippine president Bongbong Marcos aims for distancing relations between the Philippines and China in favor of the country's relationship with the United States. The current policy of the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party aims for greater influence over the Philippines, and the region in general, while combating American influence.
The Philippines–Thailand relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Thailand. The Philippines established formal diplomatic relations with Thailand on June 14, 1949. The relations between the two are described as warm and friendly. Thailand is one of the Philippines' major trade partners and one of the Philippines' sources of rice through Thai exports. Bilateral relations continues to be strengthened through talks and agreements on economic, security and cultural matters including concerns on rice trade, fight on drugs and human trafficking. Thailand has an embassy in Manila and an honorary consulate in Cebu, while the Philippines maintains an embassy in Bangkok.
Iceland–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations of Iceland and the Philippines. Diplomatic ties between the two countries formally established on 24 February 1999. Iceland has its accreditation to the Philippines through its embassy in Tokyo, Japan, and the Philippines' ambassador to Oslo, Norway has also its jurisdiction in Iceland. Both countries established honorary consulates in Reykjavík and Makati, Metro Manila, respectively.
East Timor–Philippines relations refer to foreign relations between East Timor and the Philippines. The Philippines was actively involved in the United Nations peacekeeping forces in East Timor during its move towards independence. When several nations recognized East Timor's sovereignty, the Philippines began official diplomatic relations between the two governments with the establishment of an embassy in Dili and East Timor established its embassy in Pasig.
Malaysia–Myanmar relations are foreign relations between Malaysia and Myanmar. Both are the members of ASEAN and enjoy good relations. Although the relations become strained in late 2016 due to the Rohingya people issues, the relations remained stable after the meeting between both countries' armed forces chiefs to play down the issues. Myanmar currently has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Yangon.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has made political position on many national issues.
Laos–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations between Laos and the Philippines. Laos has an embassy in Manila while the Philippines has an embassy in Vientiane.
The prevalence of illegal drug use in the Philippines is lower than the global average, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the country could become a "narco-state". Two of the most used and valuable illegal drugs in the country are methamphetamine hydrochloride and marijuana. In 2012, the United Nations said the Philippines had the highest rate of methamphetamine use in East Asia, and according to a U.S. State Department report, 2.1 percent of Filipinos aged 16 to 64 use the drug based on 2008 figures by the Philippines Dangerous Drugs Board. As of 2016, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime report that 1.1 percent of Filipinos aged 10 to 69 use the drug. In Metro Manila, most barangays are affected by illegal drugs.
Norway–Philippines relations refers to the bilateral relations between Norway and the Philippines. Norway has an embassy in Manila. The Philippines has an embassy in Oslo.
The Rohingya genocide is a term applied to the persecution—including mass killings, mass rapes, village-burnings, deprivations, ethnic cleansing, and internments—of the Rohingya people of western Myanmar.
The 2017 ASEAN Summits or the 30th and 31st ASEAN Summits are diplomatic conferences centering on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which were held in the Philippines from 28 to 29 April and 10–14 November 2017. This marks the third and fourth time the ASEAN Summit was held in the Philippines.
Eduardo "Ed" Drueco del Rosario is a Philippine Army veteran and government official who served as the first Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development of the Philippines under the Duterte administration, from January 2, 2020 to June 30, 2022. He previously served as Chairperson of the now-defunct Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council which was abolished and replaced by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development created through Republic Act No. 11201 on February 14, 2019. Del Rosario served 37 years in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, retiring as a major general in 2012. His service included tours as commander of the AFP Southern Luzon Command and of the 2nd Infantry Division.
The first 100 days of Rodrigo Duterte's presidency began on June 30, 2016, the day Rodrigo Duterte was inaugurated as the 16th president of the Philippines. The concept of the first 100 days of a presidential term was first adopted in the Philippines by President Corazon Aquino from the United States and has since been used as a gauge of presidential success and activism, and is a considered the "honeymoon period" where traditional critics are urged to refrain from detracting the new president. The 100th day of his presidency ended at noon on October 8, 2016.
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