Manila: More countries are set to sign and join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) during the week-long Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Manila on July 24, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the TAC is ASEAN's core peace and security pact, establishing the code of conduct for inter-state relations within the region. DFA spokesperson for ASEAN Affairs Dax Imperial, in an interview in Pasay City, said the new signatories will be represented by no less than their foreign ministers during the Philippine-hosted commemorative activity for the 50th anniversary of TAC next Friday, but did not provide the specific names of the states.
"This is the 50th anniversary, so of course, naturally, it's the first time that we'll be celebrating it. What we're highlighting here is we have new high contracting parties (who will sign the pact)," he said. "We are not yet sure about the exact number, but we're looking at 6 or 7 (new signatories)," he added.
Imperial said a total of 59 delegations from the TAC contracting parties and new signatories will join the activity. In the same event, the ASEAN is expected to come up with a new mechanism or 'modality of engagement' for TAC parties that will provide them - even those who are not an ASEAN dialogue and sectoral dialogue partner - the opportunity to have deeper engagement with ASEAN.
"With this modality, we're now creating a mechanism so that they can, even if they are not a dialogue partner or sectoral dialogue partner, engage with ASEAN," he said. "So pwedeng (So it can be on) common interest, like something on maritime security, something on economic security, even energy security or food security, pwede na silang mag-engage (they can soon engage)," he added.
The treaty was signed on Feb. 24, 1976 by the original five signatories, including the Philippines. Today, it is binding to a total of 58 high contracting parties, including global powers like the United States, China, Japan, France, Canada, the European Union, India, and Russia.
