Manila Bulletin
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Galvez calls for ASEAN unity vs regional maritime security challenges
Philippines
National
Galvez calls for ASEAN unity vs regional maritime security challenges
Galvez calls for ASEAN unity vs regional maritime security challenges
Published May 10, 2023 06:40 am
Member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should take a united stand to address common maritime security challenges in the Southeast Asian region, Department of National Defense (DND) Officer in Charge (OIC) Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.
(DND OIC Senior Usec. Carlito Galvez Jr. / Photo courtesy of DND)
Galvez emphasized this during his keynote speech at the Maritime Security Symposium (MSS) 2023 hosted by the Philippine Navy (PN) in Taguig City on Tuesday, May 9.
“Ensuring maritime security in the region must not be viewed as our responsibility and contribution to larger international community. We must view it as a way to sustain our economic growth for the actual benefit of our people,” Galvez stated.
The symposium, which carried the theme “ASEAN at the Forefront: Emphasizing ASEAN's Perspective, Highlighting its Strength,” emphasized the importance of ASEAN Centrality through cooperation amid geopolitical challenges. It also aimed to contextualize the role of ASEAN navies amidst external players in the region.
The symposium featured two panels, each consisting of one moderator and two speakers. The first panel was titled "The Southeast Asian Region: A Theatre of Converging Challenges and Interests" which examined the current situation in Southeast Asia as a region where various great powers converge with their security challenges and interests.
The second panel titled "The ASEAN Perspective: Upholding ASEAN Centrality, Highlighting Cooperation" highlighted the importance of the ASEAN perspective amid the increasing involvement of extra-regional players in the Southeast Asian region.
“Over the past five decades, ASEAN has made significant strides in promoting meaningful cooperation among its member-states and beyond,” Galvez said as he discussed the history of ASEAN and its economic growth, as well as the traditional and non-traditional security concerns in the region.
Among such concerns for the Philippines is its overlapping territorial claims with China in the South China Sea (SCS).
China claims majority of the SCS including parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or the area within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines despite an international tribunal ruling which invalidated its sweeping historical claims in the area. Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam also has territorial claims in the disputed waters.
( [L-R) DND OIC Senior Usec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and Philippine Navy Chief Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. Photo courtesy of DND)
The ASEAN was established in 1967 “to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development and to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia.” It has 10 member-states namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“Let us make this event a perfect opportunity to revisit our way of doing things and come up with innovative and respectable approaches to asserting ASEAN Centrality amidst emerging threats to maritime security,” Galvez said.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., PN Flag Officer in Command, encouraged the ASEAN countries to "collaborate in promoting the ASEAN’s perspective on issues of regional and global importance, and to leverage ASEAN’s strengths to advance their shared goals."
“As we move forward, I urge all of us to continue to support ASEAN’s efforts to enhance its role and influence in the region and beyond,” Adaci said.
The MSS 2023 was part of a set of activities leading to the 125th PN anniversary celebration later this month, and a prelude to the PN’s hosting of the 17th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM) on Wednesday, May 10.
(DND OIC Senior Usec. Carlito Galvez Jr. / Photo courtesy of DND)
Galvez emphasized this during his keynote speech at the Maritime Security Symposium (MSS) 2023 hosted by the Philippine Navy (PN) in Taguig City on Tuesday, May 9.
“Ensuring maritime security in the region must not be viewed as our responsibility and contribution to larger international community. We must view it as a way to sustain our economic growth for the actual benefit of our people,” Galvez stated.
The symposium, which carried the theme “ASEAN at the Forefront: Emphasizing ASEAN's Perspective, Highlighting its Strength,” emphasized the importance of ASEAN Centrality through cooperation amid geopolitical challenges. It also aimed to contextualize the role of ASEAN navies amidst external players in the region.
The symposium featured two panels, each consisting of one moderator and two speakers. The first panel was titled "The Southeast Asian Region: A Theatre of Converging Challenges and Interests" which examined the current situation in Southeast Asia as a region where various great powers converge with their security challenges and interests.
The second panel titled "The ASEAN Perspective: Upholding ASEAN Centrality, Highlighting Cooperation" highlighted the importance of the ASEAN perspective amid the increasing involvement of extra-regional players in the Southeast Asian region.
“Over the past five decades, ASEAN has made significant strides in promoting meaningful cooperation among its member-states and beyond,” Galvez said as he discussed the history of ASEAN and its economic growth, as well as the traditional and non-traditional security concerns in the region.
Among such concerns for the Philippines is its overlapping territorial claims with China in the South China Sea (SCS).
China claims majority of the SCS including parts of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or the area within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines despite an international tribunal ruling which invalidated its sweeping historical claims in the area. Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam also has territorial claims in the disputed waters.
( [L-R) DND OIC Senior Usec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and Philippine Navy Chief Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. Photo courtesy of DND)
The ASEAN was established in 1967 “to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development and to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia.” It has 10 member-states namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“Let us make this event a perfect opportunity to revisit our way of doing things and come up with innovative and respectable approaches to asserting ASEAN Centrality amidst emerging threats to maritime security,” Galvez said.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., PN Flag Officer in Command, encouraged the ASEAN countries to "collaborate in promoting the ASEAN’s perspective on issues of regional and global importance, and to leverage ASEAN’s strengths to advance their shared goals."
“As we move forward, I urge all of us to continue to support ASEAN’s efforts to enhance its role and influence in the region and beyond,” Adaci said.
The MSS 2023 was part of a set of activities leading to the 125th PN anniversary celebration later this month, and a prelude to the PN’s hosting of the 17th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM) on Wednesday, May 10.