PH, US commit anew to maritime law enforcement amid latest Chinese harassment in West PH Sea

This handout photo from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) taken and received on May 8, 2024 shows the BRP Jose Rizal launching a C-Star Surface to Surface Anti-Ship Missile directed towards a mock enemy target during the maritime strike exercise as part of the joint US-Philippines annual military Balikatan drills in Laoag, on Luzon island's northwest coast. (Photo by Handout / various sources / AFP)

Building on their shared belief in a rules-based international order, the Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to maritime cooperation despite a “complex and evolving” set of challenges.

This was the highlight of the third Philippine-US maritime dialogue held in Manila on Thursday, according to a statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday.

Marshall Louis Alferez, Assistant Secretary of the DFA’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office, served as co-chair for the dialogue with deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin of the US State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin —@NatSecDiver/X

The DFA said the meeting was “comprehensive and substantive” and revolved around maritime law enforcement, especially information sharing, capacity building and joint operations, as well as modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard.

The meeting discussed several issues concerning illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the continued collaboration on marine environmental conservation and climate change initiatives, marine scientific research, and oil spill response.

“The two sides also exchanged information on how to improve maritime policy coordination, including in legislation and international ocean governance. 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,” the DFA said.

Although the statement did not mention Manila’s maritime conflict with China, the US has been a staunch supporter of the Philippines in recent hostile incidents involving the Chinese Coast Guard’s harassment of local vessels.

Read: Navy bent on defending PH territory after latest Chinese harassment

The dialogue also reaffirmed the commitment of the two states to uphold the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas.

“This dialogue is a testament to the strength of [the] alliance and [the] shared commitment to uphold a free, open and secure maritime environment,” Alferez said in his opening remarks according to the DFA.

Alferez added that Manila and Washington “must continue to assess and discuss our current responses to ensure they are sufficient to counter evolving challenges.”