FOREIGN SECRETARY DISCUSSES EAST ASIA ARCHITECTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 004346 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2016 TAGS: PREL ECIN XE RP SUBJECT: FOREIGN SECRETARY DISCUSSES EAST ASIA ARCHITECTURE REF: A. STATE 171368 ¶B. STATE 153875 Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador and DCM on October 11, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, speaking as a friend and ally, sought to persuade us of the merits of U.S. participation in the East Asia Summit. He described the EAS as an important emerging forum, inclusive of all East Asia, with ASEAN at its core. As a Pacific power, the U.S. should play a major role and take advantage of the opportunities this forum presents. Romulo quickly added that the nascent EAS format needs work, calling the current leader-led dialogue without agenda or preparation by senior officials "a lot of bull." As upcoming EAS host, Romulo said the Philippines is pressing for better preparation. ¶2. (C) Ambassador and DCM explained U.S. policy on the EAS, focusing on the need to preserve and strengthen the value-added of long-standing organizations, especially APEC. Attempting to duplicate work on issues such as energy security in multiple fora risked diluting and confusing multilateral activities. Romulo said he deeply appreciated the value of APEC, but argued that working concurrently in different organizations will reinforce efforts, allowing each forum to make its own contribution. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) The Philippines remains a great supporter of APEC, as President Arroyo often expresses publicly and privately. But despite repeated efforts, we got no traction on our vision of complementarity with Romulo, whose view is common among senior Philippine officials. There is concern here that the U.S. is passing up an opportunity to be a player in an emerging organization linking all of ASEAN with the northeast Asian powers. Regarding Romulo's remarks on pursuing energy security at the EAS (ref a),it will be difficult to convince this year's EAS host to exclude energy security from EAS discussion, given the political impact of high energy prices in the Philippines. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY