The Pacific Corridor

Issue 2

Jun 20, 2025

by Nabil Haskanbancha, in Bangkok

This week’s Pacific Corridor issue highlights how cooperation across security, environmental action, and family life is impacting ASEAN’s evolving landscape. Through regional diplomacy and domestic policy, the three countries below show how cooperation is crucial to maintain ASEAN resilience in the face of geopolitical changes. In the Philippines, World Environment Day serves as a reminder that climate solutions require active and constructive efforts from all ASEAN member states as it’s a challenge that threatens future livelihoods. Meanwhile, Singapore is committed to strengthen its support for families by amending laws that provide more flexibility and convenience for both parents to take paid leave; initiatives such as “Dads for Life” promote more involvement of fathers in enhancing stronger family bonds. In Vietnam, the Indian naval vessel INS Darshaks’ visit to Ho Chi Minh City reflects the deepening of India-Vietnam strategic partnership built on mutual trust and regional stability.

Vietnam 🇻🇳

Anchoring Stability: INS Darshak's Visit to Ho Chi Minh City Deepens India-Vietnam Ties

The port call of INS Darshak to Ho Chi Minh City is not a mere ceremonial event but an emblem of a deepening Indo-Vietnamese relationship that will be of great consequence not just in bilateral security but also in regional prosperity and stability.

by Tri Vo, in Ho Chi Minh City

The recent docking of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Darshak at Saigon Port in Ho Chi Minh City underscores the growing strategic partnership between India and Vietnam. This visit carries significant implications for regional security and bilateral relations. More than just a typical port call, this three-day friendly engagement, which began on May 29, 2025, symbolizes a deeper commitment to "a cooperative relationship, understanding, and mutual trust," all of which resonate within the larger ASEAN framework for regional cooperation.

Naval visits, such as that of the INS Darshak, are more than just pomp and circumstance; they are critical components of naval diplomacy that enhance interoperability between services while also fostering bilateral trust and confidence. During their visit, officers and crew from the INS Darshak participated in a variety of activities that highlighted both the strategic and human aspects of this relationship. The visit included formal courtesy visits to leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Military Region 7 Command, and the Naval Region 2.

In addition, friendly sports activities with the Vietnamese People's Navy further strengthened these links by demonstrating camaraderie and mutual respect among military personnel. Although the specifics of the joint maritime exercises planned for this occasion have not been fully disclosed, previous visits by Indian Navy ships have generally included such drills, focusing on formation manoeuvres, communication exercises, and search-and-rescue training. Such military exercises improve interoperability, which is critical not only for collective security but also for humanitarian collaboration.

From a geostrategic standpoint, the visit is nothing but astounding. For India, this visit is closely linked to its "Act East Policy" and the "Security and Growth for All in the Region" initiatives, which emphasize engagement with Southeast Asian nations. For Vietnam, the visit serves as a powerful signal of strengthening ties with India, a rising global power, and highlights its strategic intent to diversify its security partnerships in an increasingly fluid geopolitical landscape.

This shared trust extends beyond addressing common security concerns to encompass a mutual interest in promoting a stable and prosperous maritime ecosystem that spans from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. Indeed, the visit is a remarkable demonstration of solidarity between the two countries, highlighting their commitment to regional security and international law. It also signifies to the rest of the region the importance of cooperative relationships in fostering regional peace, while maintaining ASEAN’s central role in promoting regional stability, with Vietnam emerging as a key driver of these efforts.

The ongoing defense collaboration, including high-level diplomatic exchanges, training initiatives, and the transfer of military assets such as the INS Kirpan to Vietnam, further reinforces this trust. Such a partnership then paves the way for stronger and more comprehensive strategic cooperation that benefits both nations, ASEAN, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Tri has experience in management consulting and strategy, having worked with institutions such as the UNDP, The Asia Group, and ARC Group. He has provided strategic, legal, and operational insights to clients in sectors including manufacturing, energy, and technology. He holds both academic and professional experience related to Southeast and East Asia, with a focus on regional development and policy.

The Philippines 🇵🇭

Unity against Oceanic Plastic Pollution? A Call for ASEAN Unity in Combating Plastic Pollution

by Arianne De Guzman, in Bulacan

Every year in June, World Environment Day is celebrated globally, allowing us to collectively reflect on the threat of climate change and propose solutions to it. In the case of the Philippines and its ASEAN neighbours, it serves as a reminder to work together; environmental issues are not just one country’s problems but rather constitute shared challenges that cross borders and require a united response.

The Philippines, for instance, is expected to be a major contributor to oceanic plastic pollution this year, consistent with its ranking as the top contributor in 2021, according to a research study. According to the Philippine Climate Change Commission, rivers such as the Pasig account for approximately 63,000 tons of plastic that ends up in the oceans annually. Yet, despite policies such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP), weak implementation and underfunding have limited their effectiveness in addressing plastic pollution.

It is essential to note that plastic pollution is a transnational issue – plastic waste moves across borders. This issue persists because ASEAN lacks a legally binding agreement on the transboundary movement of plastic waste, despite calls from various civil society organizations (CSOs) and academics to establish such an agreement. The only available agreements are the ASEAN Framework on Marine Debris and the Bangkok Declaration, which lack enforceable clauses, particularly regarding waste trade, packaging standards, and extended producer responsibility.
Moreover, the rise of e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid urbanization are exacerbating plastic pollution. In Metro Manila, plastic packaging from Shopee and Lazada has contributed to an increase in this type of waste. Overall, Southeast Asian countries have been reported to produce 11.7 million metric tonnes of plastic waste, 60% of which comes from urban areas. Collectively, the region accounts for nearly half of the global plastic entering the ocean.

ASEAN now needs a paradigm shift beyond just proposing agreements and practices – what is required is a behavioral change to establish unified governance and a legally binding framework that aligns with the environmental aspirations of the Southeast Asian region.

On World Environment Day 2025, let us be reminded that the Philippines cannot resolve this issue alone. Real progress can only be made through ASEAN’s collective willingness to act. As Senior Economist on ASEAN affairs, Venkatachalam Anbumozhi says, “Some forms of excellence arise not from competition but from collaboration.”

Arianne has worked in legal research at the Philippines Department of Justice and in policy research at De La Salle University’s Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance, supporting projects on systemic reform. She holds a degree in Political Science from Colegio de San Juan de Letran and is pursuing a master’s in Sociology at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She is also involved in youth development and grassroots advocacy through the Rotaract Club of Santa Maria.

Singapore 🇸🇬

Father’s Day Special: Cultivating Healthy Fatherhood Involvement across ASEAN

by Nurul Aini, in Singapore

Discussing parenthood in Singapore sometimes means hearing the occasional sighs and scoffs over personal concerns about raising children and the high cost of living, which makes family life increasingly difficult. Behind this seemingly resistant attitude toward expanding one’s family lies a deeper anxiety: the struggle to juggle work demands, personal ambitions, and parental responsibilities. In light of Father’s Day on 15 June 2025, advocating for active fatherhood means acknowledging the need for more balanced and cooperative family dynamics that can be an anchor of stability and happiness in an uncertain world.

Research conducted by the Australian Fatherhood Research Network and Dads for Life suggests that traditional expectations of fathers as disciplinarians and providers are being reshaped by social movements, evolving societal norms, and legal reforms across parts of ASEAN. Specifically, fathers can, and are increasingly encouraged to, take on caregiving responsibilities within the household, though greater support is still needed for men to grow into their role as fathers. Meanwhile, an article by dataSpring suggests that the modern Asian dad is domestically more involved through acts like changing diapers, while being informed on broader theoretical and practical aspects of caregiving. Some fathers are also influenced by the glamourisation of active fatherhood through “dad-fluencers” on social media.

In Singapore, “Dads for Life” has been central to fostering closeness between children and their father through community events and educational resources. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) amended the Child Development Co-Savings Act, effective 1 April 2025. These amendments allow fathers extra paid leave to care for their newborn child. They are the Enhanced Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL, mandatory 4-week leave) and New Shared Parental Leave (SPL, optional up to 10-weeks by 2026). According to the Minister of State for Social and Family Development, Sun Xueling, these changes are meant to cultivate a spirit of shared responsibility in caregiving and reaffirm the government’s commitment to supporting families through promoting active fatherhood. These two laws also aim to strike a balance between employers’ interests with the employees’ personal needs by requiring a four-week notice period. Simultaneously, it also allows space for negotiations between the parties whenever necessary.

Choosing to be more involved domestically during a period of such volatile job market conditions takes courage from new parents. Theoretically, the GPPL also offers protection for employees from being unfairly dismissed from their workplace. However, concerns over other colleagues taking on more work also mean taking time off remains tainted with guilt.

Through active fatherhood, mothers are better supported in balancing work and family and they are less likely to experience “mom-guilt.” The difficulties faced by prospective families should prompt a reevaluation and reflection of the cultural and social norms in building one. As we move towards the ASEAN 2045 vision, promoting, advocating, and normalising healthy and active fatherhood also means acknowledging that building a family is a result of cooperation between government, employers, and parents – it takes a village (the whole country!) to raise children.

Aini is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English literature at Nanyang Technological University. She has experience working in youth groups, contributing to the planning and management of outreach activities.

Editorial Deadline 17/06/2025 11:59 PM (UTC +8)