Atenean ASEAN international relations specialists contribute to regional economic security dialogues

From 15 to 17 September 2025, ASEAN’s International Relations community participated in a key ASEAN policy initiative held in Manila as part of the Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (Mana Mo).

Representing Ateneo, Dr Alma Maria Salvador, Associate Professor of Political Science took part in the Track 1.5/2 Workshop on ASEAN Economic Security in the South China Sea, organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Philippines and the Foundation for the National Interest, with support from FACTS Asia and Amador Research Services. The workshop convened policymakers and experts from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

The post-workshop report (September 2025) highlighted that the South China Sea is ASEAN’s economic lifeline and underscored interconnected risks across seabed mining, submarine cable security, marine environmental protection, and maritime supply chains. Key findings called for stronger ASEAN-wide governance frameworks, capacity-building, and coordinated approaches to digital, environmental, and economic resilience.

Dr. Salvador also contributed to the post-workshop policy briefing on 29 September 2025, helping translate workshop discussions into ASEAN-informed policy recommendations.