Poised to take up the Asean chair position, the Philippines’ courting of the regional bloc’s latest member, East Timor, signals its intent to secure a new ally in promoting maritime security among the 11 strong grouping of nations. But analysts say the budding partnership is more likely a symbolic rather than a strategic one, with the Philippines playing more of a mentor role to the newcomer. On the sidelines of the defence chiefs meeting in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, following the Association...