Islamist militant threat expected to overshadow South China Sea dispute at ASEAN forum

Record ID: 905047

  • Title: Islamist militant threat expected to overshadow South China Sea dispute at ASEAN forum
  • Date: 2nd August 2017
  • Summary: MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES (FILE) (REUTERS) ****WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS FIRING RIFLES WHILE TAKING COVER SOLDIER LOOKING THROUGH BINOCULARS SOLDIER LOOKING OUT BEHIND COVER / SOLDIER AIMING RIFLE DAMAGED BUILDING SEEN THROUGH HOLE IN WALL, WITH RIFLE POINTING OUT OF IT VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS ESCORTING CIVILIANS VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING FROM DAMAGED BUILDINGS TARAKAN, NORTH KALIMANTAN PROVINCE, INDONESIA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INDONESIAN SHIPS CONDUCTING JOINT PATROLS INDONESIAN MILITARY ONBOARD RUBBER BOAT VARIOUS OF INDONESIAN SOLDIERS BOARDING CARGO SHIP DURING SIMULATED EXERCISE MANILA, PHILIPPINES (FILE) (REUTERS) INDONESIAN, PHILIPPINE AND MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS PERFORMING ASEAN HANDSHAKE (FROM LEFT) PHILIPPINE FOREIGN MINISTER ALAN PETER CAYETANO (WEARING WHITE), INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RETNO MARSUDI (WEARING HEADBAND), AND MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANIFAH AMAN (IN SUIT) SHAKING HANDS
  • Embargoed: 16th August 2017 08:16
  • Keywords: ASEAN security ASEAN Islamist militants ASEAN preview foreign terrorist fighters ASEAN agenda South China Sea Marawi Philippines Islamic State Islamic State in Asia
  • Location: MANILA, MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES / TARAKAN, NORTH KALIMANTAN PROVINCE, INDONESIA / BEIJING, CHINA / IN AIR, SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, SOUTH CHINA SEA
  • City: MANILA, MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES / TARAKAN, NORTH KALIMANTAN PROVINCE, INDONESIA / BEIJING, CHINA / IN AIR, SCARBOROUGH SHOAL, SOUTH CHINA SEA
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026SGQYBR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: As the battle against Islamist militants in the southern Philippines continues to rage, talks on regional security are expected to take centre stage at this year's Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, overshadowing the more long-standing discussions on the disputed South China Sea.
    In the past, the South China Sea has topped the agenda at the annual regional forum, with participant nations usually expected to press China to conclude a Code of Conduct (CoC) to regulate navigation.
    But since May 23 when an alliance of pro-Islamic State fighters laid siege to the southern Marawi City, security forces in the Philippines - this year's ASEAN host - have been on high alert, with fears rife that the restive region is fast becoming an Asian hub for the ultra-radical group. The ongoing battle in the city has so far killed more than 650 people, mostly rebel fighters.
    The Philippines and neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia have recently launched joint maritime patrols in an effort to curb the movement of Islamist fighters, as well as tackle piracy in the porous waters.
    Growing concerns about Islamic State militants migrating to the region are "a concern for every country", says Philippine foreign affairs spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar, adding that he expects "a lot of support" for counter-terrorism operations during the upcoming meetings.
    Rommel Banlaoi, the Executive Director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism, says the South China Sea has become "less problematic" than the arrival of increasing numbers of foreign terrorist fighters, which are being viewed as an "urgent priority".
    They also happen to come at a time when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pursues warmer ties with China.
    China has rattled nerves around Asia and globally with its increasingly assertive stance and an ambitious military modernisation plan in the resource-rich South China Sea. It claims most of the waterway, but several Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam also have competing claims.
    China's claims to sovereignty over the sea were invalidated last year but the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, after the previous Philippine government filed a case in 2013 on maritime boundaries. Duterte, however, has put the ruling on the backburner, saying he'll revisit it later in his term.
    The ASEAN summit officially kicks off in Manila on Saturday (August 5) with an opening ceremony. The Philippines have said they are deploying a precautionary 13,000 police officers to secure it.
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