ASEAN mulls economic-centered Indo-Pacific thrust
MANILA - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) led by Indonesia this year is eyeing an economic cooperation-centered thrust in the Indo-Pacific, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Daniel Espiritu said the bloc envisions an outlook that responds to the Indo-Pacific strategies of major powers like the United States, Japan, Australia, India and South Korea. "[T]he thing that you will notice about the Indo-Pacific concept of the superpowers and their allies is that they are security-centered," he said...