IN SEARCH OF A CHINA STRATEGY: UNPACKING THE BILATERAL AND REGIONAL DYNAMICS OF PHILIPPINES-CHINA RELATIONS 17-18 August 2016 Venue: GT Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman
Organized by: the Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, Inc. and the University of the Philippines Asian Center
The Organizers
Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation, Inc. (APPFI) was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock non-profit organization in 2014. Its vision is the promotion of peace, development, and cultural understanding for the peoples of the Philippines and the Asia Pacific through international dialogue and cooperation. For more information, see appfi.ph.
Its flagship China Program has engaged institutional, industry and sectoral stakeholders in the Philippines in assessments of the implications of China’s emerging role in the Philippines, in East Asia and the world. It has also contributed to strengthening civil society and academic linkages between these two countries, particularly in light of recent tensions between the two states over disputed territory and maritime zones. Click here for the latest reports on program activities.
The Asian Center, on the other hand, is the University of the Philippines' only unit with a regional area of specialization. Established in 1955 as the Institute of Asian Studies, the Asian Center offers graduate-level multidisciplinary academic programs on Asian studies and on Philippine Studies. Its mandate—the study of Asia—is underpinned by law, Republic Act 5334,.
The Symposium
The symposium “IN SEARCH OF A CHINA STRATEGY: UNPACKING BILATERAL AND REGIONAL DYNAMICS OF PHILIPPINES-CHINA RELATIONS” is the culmination of many small-group discussions, roundtables and consultations organized by APPFI in partnership with private sector organizations in 2015-2016. During these events, key thinkers, practitioners and opinion leaders were invited to reflect on how China’s regional and global role impacted on their sectors and what the future may have in store.
The Symposium revisits and brings together some of the highlights from past events, but also involves new research findings, the purposes being to engage a wider audience and to turn the assessments and analyses into relevant inputs for the new Philippine administration.
The Objectives
The objectives of the symposium are the following:
(1) to provide a holistic understanding of the multidimensional relationship between the Philippines and China; (2) to identify the underlying interests and dynamics that may drive the actions and policies of each side toward the other in the medium to long term future; (3) to generate policy options and recommendations towards a China policy and strategy that will bring greater benefit to the Philippines and Filipinos.
The symposium will cover the sociocultural, economic, development, political and security aspects of relations, set against the backdrop of domestic priorities in Beijing and Manila as well as broader regional and global trends.
Program
Day 1
9:00 Opening Session & Conference Overview: Raphael P.M. Lotilla, APPFI Chairman of the Board
Panel 1: ISSUES IN SOCIOCULTURAL AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES Moderator: TBD
9:30
Migration trends and their socio-economic implications: Teresita Ang See, Founding President, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, Executive Trustee, Kaisa Heritage Foundation Role of civil society in PHL-China relations: Prof. Bobby Tuazon, Director for Policy Studies, CENPEG
10:00 COFFEE BREAK
10:30 Science and Technology Cooperation: Ms. Elenita Leus, International Technology Cooperation Unit, DOST Youth and educational networks and exchanges: Mr. Austin Ong, Founding President, Philippines-China Friendship Club Cooperation against Transnational Crime: SSupt. Joselito T. Necodemus, OIC Director, Philippine Center on Transnational Crime
11:15 OPEN FORUM
11:45 Photo Session
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 Panel 2: ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Moderator: Prof. Antoinette Raquiza, Vice President, APPFI
Tourism Prospects and Challenges: Narzalina Lim, President, Asia Pacific Projects Inc. Trade Cooperation: Ellen Palanca, Ateneo de Manila University Investments: (TBD) Infrastructure cooperation: (TBD) Chinese Mining interests: Carlos Arcilla, Professor, National Institute for Geological Sciences
3:00 COFFEE BREAK
3:30 Panel 3: THE SOUTH CHINA SEA Moderator: Dr. Rommel Banlaoi
The Arbitration Award & its Implications on Philippine development: Atty. Jay Batongbacal, Director, UP IMLOS Lessons from Internatioanal Fisheries Cooperation Agreements: Mr. Lucio Pitlo, Lecturer, China Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University Prospects for Oil & Gas competition and cooperation with China: (TBD) Discussant: Capt. Rommel Jude Ong, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Operation, Philippine Navy
5:30 Closing
Day 2
8:30 Keynote address: “Philippine Development Plan: Where is China in all of this?” Amb. Laura del Rosario
9:00 Panel 4: PHILIPPINES-CHINA TIES IN BROADER CONTEXT Moderator: Amb. Wilfrido Villacorta
China’s Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy Implications: Mr. Chito Sta Romana, President, Philippine Association of Chinese Studies Geopolitical Shifts and their consequences: Dr. Aileen Baviera, Professor, UP Asian Center The Philippines between China and ASEAN: Prof. Herman Kraft, Associate Professor, Political Science Dept., UP Diliman Regional connectivity and the maritime silk Road: Dr. Federico Macaranas, Professor, Asian Institute of Management
10:30 COFFEE BREAK
11:00 Summing Up & The Way Forward : Moderators, led by Dr. Aileen Baviera
12:30 Closing Remarks
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