The Philippines and India have begun talks on maritime issues in a development that came after New Delhi started to voice out its concern over aggression in the South China Sea.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office Marshall Louis Alfarez and Indian Joint Secretary for its External Affairs’ Disarmament and International Security Affairs Muanpuii Saiawi led the Track 1 Maritime Dialogue that was held in Manila on Dec. 13.
The dialogue marked a "significant step" in the two countries' relations, the DFA said, as officials of both countries expressed their shared interest in "a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region for all."
Amid challenges in the South China Sea, including in the West Philippine Sea, both sides discussed ways to enhance maritime cooperation in furthering a conducive environment for mutual growth and global well-being.
In 2023, India joined a chorus of nations calling out aggression in the West Philippine Sea, mainly perpetrated by China—with which India also has land dispute.
Taking a strong stance against China's "expansionist" attitude following the release of its 2023 standard map, India said it saw the need to bolster its defense and maritime security partnership with the Philippines as both countries depend on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Former Indian envoy to Manila said that New Delhi "would like to expand the navy engagement" between New Delhi and Manila because both have "high" and "common" stakes in the region.
"I do see the possibility of greater engagement in the maritime domain. As to what it will take, we have to depend on the evolution of the situation," he said.
During the talk, Manila and New Delhi stressed the need for multilateralism as well as for the rules-based international order.
"They reinforced the primacy of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be carried out," the DFA said.Like the Philippines, India believes in the validity of the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitration Award on the South China Sea.
"They underscored the importance of respecting the rights, and freedoms of all States, including of navigation and overflight, as well as strictly abiding by the geographical and substantive limits of maritime entitlements of coastal States, in accordance with international law, particularly under the UNCLOS and its dispute settlement mechanisms," DFA added.
Meanwhile, the Philippines and India also tackled possible avenues to collaborate at various international and regional fora for their shared objectives.They committed to exchange shared best practices and become partners in maritime capacity building initiatives.
The two countries also pushed to engage in information sharing, and explore other forms of practical cooperation in areas, such as Regional Maritime Security, National Maritime Strategy, the Law of the Sea, Economic Opportunities in the Maritime Sector, Resilient Supply Chains, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Search and Rescue, Maritime Domain Awareness, Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Biodiversity, Ocean Science, Marine Spatial Planning, Ocean Information and Advisory Services, and the Obligation to Protect and Preserve the Marine Environment."
They also reached an understanding to look further into navy and coast guard cooperation, hydrography cooperation, and sister port arrangements, among others," DFA said.
The Philippines and India also echoed the call of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Security Council for respect for the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms as well as the immediate release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew.As it developed, the Philippines also encouraged India to consider proactive efforts to promote and protect the enjoyment of human rights by seafarers, and give due regard to the right of seafarers to refuse to sail in designated high-risk areas.
"They committed to mutually support each other at the IMO, for the benefit of seafarers, and to engage with States and maritime industry stakeholders to look into international cooperation on timely and practical initiatives, such as enhanced awareness for seafarers navigating high-risk areas, sharing real-time threat intelligence, and development of safer routes," DFA said.
The Track 1 dialogue built on the success of the inaugural Track 2 maritime dialogue that was held in Manila on September 12, 2023.
The progress to a Track 1 dialogue signified the commitment of both sides to deepen their engagement on maritime issues, according to DFA.
The second round of the Philippines-India maritime dialogue will be hosted by India in 2025.