Asean Maritime Forum to be institutionalized

The United States wants the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) institutionalized to allow the annual meeting of 18 countries belonging to the East Asia Summit (EAS), including the 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states. The expanded forum is composed of 18 countries, including the US and the ASEAN members, with the same format of the EAS.

“And so when we joined EAS last year we became a member of expanded maritime forum. Although it has not been decided whether this format will continue, certainly our country will be very supportive of that. We would welcome this becoming institutionalized,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joseph Yun said.- (Philstar)