The Philippines and Brunei are eyeing cooperation between their coast guard personnel as Manila is strengthening its bilateral ties with Southeast Asian neighbors amid developments in the Indo-Pacific.
During the 3rd Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation which was held in Manila on August 15, diplomats from both sides said they are expecting that defense cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei would be strengthened in the coming months when the Philippines convenes the Joint Defense Working Committee.
"Both sides also sought to explore areas for future cooperation with regard to each other's Coast Guards, and to increase opportunities in maritime infrastructure development and in the protection and promotion of the marine environment and its resources," the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Manila is hopeful that its active engagement with Bandar Seri Begawan is a testament to the robust relations between the two countries.
DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro led the Philippine delegation in meeting Brunei's, which was headed by Permanent Secretary for Politics and International Organization Norhashimah binti Pengiran Mohd Hassan.
The one-day meeting turned productive, according to DFA, as the diplomats discussed a range of topics, including political-security, economic cooperation and people to people relations.
The Philippines' recent talk with Brunei followed the same talk it had with Vietnam and Laos.
From the end of July until the early days of August, DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo flew to Hanoi, and then to Vientiane for the same event—JCBC with both countries.
Manalo with his counterparts and other government officials to discuss possible cooperation on defense, maritime, economy and people-to-people.
In his speeches in Vietnam and Laos, Manalo said ASEAN members must manage geopolitical tensions to ensure uninterrupted development in the Indo-Pacific region.
Since the region is now “an engine of global growth,” Manalo said the regional bloc must do this because of four realities it holds.
The four realities are: ASEAN is the core of the region, the dynamics of the region is being shaped by its many members, a rules-based order must be anchored for peace and stability, and anxieties on geopolitical tensions must not detract the region’s pursuit.