December 5, 2002, The Philippine Star, Philippine president says alliances among Asian countries needed in fighting terror,

December 5, 2002, The Philippine Star, Philippine president says alliances among Asian countries needed in fighting terror,

Tokyo: A concrete alliance among countries in Asia, not divisions and tensions between states, is what is required in addressing international terrorism. This was stressed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) in a late night coffee chat Wednesday [4 December] with the members of Philippine media covering her state visit here.

There are "so many uncertainties, economic and security. It's very important that we cement alliances," President Arroyo said in the wake of the tension between Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.

The current situation was recently triggered by the statement of the Australian Prime Minister John Howard that his country is prepared to take preemptive attacks overseas where there are terrorists believed to be targeting his country's interests.

Given the threat of international terrorism and the economic slowdown in many parts of the world, President Arroyo said, the presence of uncertainties require that each state solidify its alliance with its neighbours.

A stronger alliance with Japan, she said, is what she sought out to do in her state visit here, and this, she stressed, she accomplished.

"The important thing is that the Philippines and Japan have a good partnership at this time when the partnership is very, very much needed," she said.

While she did not criticize any particular state in Asia, the president reiterated that the fight against terrorism cannot be won by any state acting alone, but through a collective effort of all countries in the region.

President Arroyo said this is the reason she initiated the forging of the treaty among Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines on the exchange of intelligence information on terrorists, to which Thailand and Cambodia later acceded.