The Philippines and the US have concluded their discussions on how to strengthen their efforts on joint maritime law enforcement in a bid to reaffirm ties to address maritime challenges.
Officials from both sides met in Manila on Thursday, Oct. 24, for the 3rd Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue, a talk that reaffirmed the Philippines and the US' shared commitment to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the rules-based international order.
The meeting was co-chaired by Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) and Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin of the US State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES).
According to the DFA, the "comprehensive and substantive discussions revolved around maritime law enforcement, especially information sharing, capacity building and joint operations, as well as modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)."
Joint efforts to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region, and continued collaboration on marine environmental conservation and climate change initiatives, especially on blue economy initiatives, marine scientific research, and oil spill response, were tackled during the meeting.
The two sides also exchanged information on how to improve maritime policy coordination, including in legislation and international ocean governance, DFA said.
They also exchanged views on recent developments in the South China Sea and how to effectively address the various challenges while also promoting peace and stability in the region, it added.
Alferez, in his opening remark, said that the dialogue is "a testament" to the strength of the alliance and the shared commitment to uphold a free, open and secure maritime environment.
He added that the two countries “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 partnership emphasized in the recent 4th PHL-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in 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.