Two officials of the UP Asian Center delivered presentations at a conference, “ASEAN-CHINA Relations in Transition: Management and Win-Win Cooperation” held on 28 May 2017 at Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
ABOUT THE PRESENTATIONS
In his presentation, “The Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship: Implications for ASEAN-China Relations,” Dean Joefe B. Santarita, PhD sought to “revisit the ASEAN’s priorities as proposed and as implemented by the Philippines as the current chair.” These include the following: “A people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN; peace and stability; maritime security and cooperation, inclusive and innovation-led growth,” among others. His paper also cites these four areas as possible avenues for the enrichment of ASEAN-China ties and of the ASEAN region.”
Dr. Henelito Sevilla, Jr. looks at President Duterte’s foreign policy and its impact on ASEAN-China relations in a paper, “The Direction of President Duterte’s Foreign Policy Agenda vis-a-vis China and the Future of ASEAN.” Dr. Sevilla writes that it is too early to say “whether his [Duterte’s] statement on exercising a foreign policy independent of the United States can be sustained for a long time.” He adds that the Philippines’ closer ties with China “would bring positive gains for both countries, [but may also] create some constraints on US-Philippines relations.
The conference was organized by the Center for China’s Relations with Neighboring Countries (Fudan University); the Network of ASEAN-China Academic Institutes; and the Asia Research Center of Fudan University.
ABOUT THE FACULTY
Dean Santarita specializes in Indian studies, migration studies, Philippine culture and society, maritime history and Southeast Asian political economy. Dr. Santarita, who obtained his Ph.D. in South Asian Studies from the National University of Singapore, handles several graduate courses at the UP Asian Center, including those on Regionalism and Community Building in Asia, Modern Asia, and Asia in Antiquity, among others. Visit his faculty profile.
Dr. Henelito A. Sevilla, Jr. is Assistant Professor at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman and Assistant to the Dean for Administration and Public Affairs. He specializes in international relations, Mindanao studies, Philippine-Middle East Relations, political economy of the Middle East, energy security in Asia, Persian Gulf security and Middle Easterners in the Philippines. The coordinator of the West Asian Studies graduate program of the UP Asian Center, he handles several graduate courses such as Seminar on West Asia, Philippine Foreign Relations in Selected Countries in West Asia, and History and Development of Philippine Foreign Policy. Visit his faculty profile.
The Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. 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 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. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. The Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. View recent and upcoming Lectures & Conferences and read other News & Announcements. Join our mailing list to receive invitations to lectures, conferences, etc.