The Philippine and United States government are discussing ways to effectively address the ‘various challenges’ in the South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.
The two governments exchanged views on the contested sea lane during the 3rd Philippine-US Maritime Dialogue in Manila on Thursday.
They also explored possible ‘new approaches’ to collaboration in the maritime domain.
The DFA said the dialogue reaffirmed the two countries’ shared commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the rules-based international order, especially in addressing the complex and evolving maritime challenges in the region and the wider Indo-Pacific.
The discussions revolved around maritime law enforcement, especially information sharing, capacity building and joint operations, as well as modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard.
The talks likewise touched on joint efforts to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region.
In additi
on, both sides agreed to continue collaboration on marine environmental conservation and climate change initiatives, especially on blue economy initiatives, marine scientific research, and oil spill response.
The two sides exchanged information on how to improve maritime policy coordination, including in legislation and international ocean governance.
The meeting was co-chaired by DFA Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez and State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin.
In his remarks, Alferez said the dialogue is a testament to the strength of the Philippine-US alliance and ‘shared commitment to uphold a free, open and secure maritime environment.’
Recognizing the importance of bilateral cooperation amid growing concerns in the maritime domain, the official said the two states ‘must continue to assess and discuss our current responses to ensure they are sufficient to counter evolving challenges.’
This third iteration of the dialogue builds upon the robust partnership emphasized in the
recent 4th Philippine-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held July in Manila, where both countries highlighted the importance of maritime security and maritime cooperation as pillars of the alliance.
The 4th Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue will be hosted by the United States in 2025, the DFA said
Source: Philippines News agency
