Maphilindo (for Malaya, the Philippines, and Indonesia) was a proposed loose political association under a confederation of Malaya, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
While the union was described as a regional association that would approach issues of common concern, it was also perceived as a tactic employed by the Philippines and Indonesia to hinder the formation of the Federation of Malaysia as Malaya's successor state. The Philippines had its own claim over the eastern part of Sabah (formerly British North Borneo), while Indonesia protested the formation of Malaysia as a British imperialist plot. The Indonesians and the Filipinos categorised the signing of the treaty between British Empire and the Federation of Malaya as a plot for the former to establish a colony within their borders. The assumption later resulted in heated conflicts between Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The union was dismantled a month later when Sukarno, President of Indonesia, adopted a policy of Konfrontasi (Indonesian, "confrontation") with the newly constituted Malaysia. The Indonesians claimed that the Malayan Government had announced on 29 August that Malaysia would be formed on 16 September 1963, before the result of the referendum of the wishes of the people of Borneo was known. The proclamation of Malaysia was postponed until September 16 to give the United Nations team time to report. The UN team reported in favor of Malaysia, but the Philippines and Indonesia refused to recognize the new federation. On 16 September, Malaysia severed diplomatic ties with the two countries. Indonesia retaliated by cutting off trade relations with the new nation.
The United States, under John F. Kennedy, appeared to have supported Maphilindo as it had hoped that it would reduce the chances of Indonesia turning Communist state.
Remnants of Maphilindo can be seen in some remaining texts of the current ASEAN Declaration as the drafting process of the declaration had held several language and excerpts from the Manila Declaration, inputted by the Indonesian delegation in Thailand.
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