Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far
and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

Security Issues in the Asia-Pacific and Philippine Foreign Relations: A Poster Exhibit*

Details

Twenty-three graduate students of the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman  explored different issues in Philippine foreign policy and Asia-Pacific regional security through a poster exhibit. The event was held on 10 December 2014 at the ASEAN Hall, Hall of Wisdom, GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman.

The poster exhibit was a class requirement for two graduate courses of the Asian Center, “Security Issues in the Asia-Pacific” and “Philippine Practice in International Diplomacy and Negotiations.” Both courses are taught by Dr. Aileen Baviera, Professor at the Asian Center and a specialist on contemporary China, international relations, and Philippine foreign policy. 

The posters covered a broad range of ASEAN-related issues: defense spending and conflict management among member states, their varying relations with China and the United States, and the impact of terrorism on Southeast Asia.

Also tackled were the Philippines’ bilateral relations with China, Japan, Malaysia, Palestine, and the United States. Other issues were the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with US, abductions of Japanese citizens in North Korea, the ethnic conflict in Myanmar, IUU fishing, corruption's impact on foreign investments in the Philippines, media discourse on territorial disputes, and the involvement of third-parties in the Mindanao peace process.

The Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian and in Philippine Studies. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center also offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.

To learn more, visit the Asian Center website at www.ac.upd.edu.ph or call 981.8500 local 3580 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

* This article was published in the Philippine Star on 13 December 2014 with a title "UP Asian Center hosts security issues poster exhibit."