Daily Tribune
Photograph courtesy of Japan in Manila Heads together Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko (second from right) at the UN General Assembly in New York with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Philippine DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo (third from left). The ministers discussed the way forward to enhance trilateral cooperation among Japan, the US and the Philippines. They concurred on the promotion of multilayered collaboration with allies and like-minded countries for upholding and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law, given the recent severe strategic environment including the situation in the South China Sea.
The European Union and the Philippines are improving their bilateral maritime cooperation through multilateral fora and organizations, including through Asean, in their first sub-committee on maritime cooperation convention in Brussels on 27 September.
They underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of states, and their maritime entitlements in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and its dispute-settlement mechanisms, while recalling the validity and finality of the arbitration award rendered under Unclos in 2016.
They emphasized their unwavering commitment to freedom of navigation and the right of innocent passage and overflight in the South China Sea, consistent with UNCLOS.
The EU and the Philippines agreed to continue to work together closely and stand up for the rules-based international order and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-aggression, as protected by the UN Charter.
The EU welcomed the Philippines agencies' uptake of the EU-funded maritime communication and coordination platform. They both committed to more training and exercises under the Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific project to strengthen the Philippines' crisis management capacities.
They expressed serious concern over unilateral actions that endanger peace, security, and stability and the rules-based international order, including recent incidents in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Such activities also include those that damage the seabed and marine environment, interfere with the livelihoods of fishing communities, and undermine the Philippines' food security.
They emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions.
They urged parties to refrain from the threat or use of force and from adding uncertainty to the region through unilateral acts.
Disputes must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law, in particular Unclos, including its dispute settlement mechanism.
They also discussed other areas of sectoral cooperation in the maritime area, such as sustainable development, ocean governance, and connectivity, noting progress toward the launch of the EU-funded technical assistance project for cooperation with the Philippines on the training, certification, and working and living conditions of seafarers.
