Philippine policy towards regional cooperation in Southeast Asia, 1961-1969

Abstract

Philippine policy towards regional co-operation in Southeast Asia during the period from 1961 to 1969 has attempted to reconcile the values of anti-communism and anti-colonialism. Both of these values are derived from the internal and external environment in which Philippine foreign policy has been formulated. Anti-communism, which has formed a theme of Philippine policy towards Asian regionalism since 1946, has emanated from the doctrines of the Catholic Church as well as from the Philippine government's adherence to the American 'line' in foreign policy during the Cold War era. Resentment of the economic role of the Chinese minority in the Philippines has also contributed to the perception of a threat from Communist China. Philippine participation in the Association of Southeast Asia (ASA), which was formed in 1961, was in large part due to dissatisfaction with SEATO and the hope that ASA would prove more effective than SEATO in countering the threat of Communist 'subversion'. Anti-communism also manifested itself clearly in Philippine policy towards regional co-operation during the Macapagal administration (1961-1965). During the first year of this administration, Philippine policy was confused, largely because of the impact of the Philippine claim to Sabah (North Borneo) on ASA. By January 1963, however, the outlines of the 'Maphilindo strategy' had emerged. This strategy was designed mainly to include Indonesia in a tacitly anti-Chinese and anticommunist association, and thus to help neutralize the influence of the Indonesian Communist Party (P.K.I.) on Indonesian politics. In effect, the goals of this policy were very similar to those of the American aid programme in Indonesia. Philippine policy seemed to have achieved its goals when the governments of Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines agreed to form Maphilindo in August 1963; this development was welcomed by the U.S. government.