Philippines Calls for Region’s Collective Progress, Peace, Stability at 36th ASEAN-Japan Forum
Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and SOM Leader Elizabeth P. Buensuceso highlights ASEAN-Japan cooperation in addressing regional and security issues at the 36th ASEAN-Japan Forum. (DFA-ASEAN photo)
MANILA 28 MAY 2021 – Representing the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and Philippine Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader Elizabeth P. Buensuceso led the discussion on traditional and non-traditional security challenges, as well as maintaining dialogue and cooperation for regional peace, security and stability at the 36th ASEAN-Japan Forum held via video conference on 27 May 2021.
“As a family bound together...the best way to move forward against collective threats and challenges is to present a united front. Japan is our strong partner in maintaining peace and security in our region,” said Acting Undersecretary Buensuceso.
“We are facing the same challenges, and we are on the same page,” Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeo Mori affirmed.
The Meeting’s participants reiterated calls for adherence to the rule of law, including the 1982 United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), exercise of self-restraint, resolution of disputes by peaceful means, and undertaking of cooperative activities to build trust and confidence.
Philippine SOM Leader Buensuceso said that the presence and swarming of Chinese maritime militia within Philippine maritime zones not only infringes upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, but also threatens the security and stability in the region.
The Philippines thanked Japan for its statement of support for peace and stability in the region through the enforcement of the rule of law in the seas, and working with the international community to protect free, open, and peaceful seas. Undersecretary Buensuceso also welcomed Japan’s expressed support for the 2016 arbitral award that contributes to the rules-based order in the South China Sea.
The Philippines acknowledged Japan’s continuing efforts to promote regional peace and security through its initiatives in various ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Foreign Affairs Acting Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and Senior Official Elizabeth P. Buensuceso (top row, leftmost) joins fellow ASEAN SOM Leaders and the ASEAN Deputy Secretary General for ASEAN Political Security Community Robert Matheus Tene in a meeting with Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, SOM Leader for ASEAN of Japan Takeo Mori. (DFA photo)
During the dialogue, Japan stressed the importance of promoting fair access to vaccines throughout the world as it will host the COVAX Advance Market Commitment Summit with Gavi on 02 June 2021. Japan assured ASEAN that it will continue to work hard on the distribution of vaccines in the region, with a view to achieving universal health coverage.
Undersecretary Buensuceso called for the restoration of the previously existing state of affairs in Myanmar, the de-escalation of violence, restraint in using lethal force against unarmed civilians, immediate release of political detainees including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and for the swift implementation of the Five Point Consensus reached during the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting last 24 April 2021.
The 36th ASEAN-Japan Forum highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation across a broad spectrum of issues such as economic recovery, sustaining supply chain connectivity, trade and investment facilitation, public health, natural disaster response, narrowing the development gap, sub-regional development, and people-to-people exchanges.
Deputy Foreign Minister, ASEAN SOM Leader of Viet Nam Nguyen Quoc Dzung, and Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, SOM Leader for ASEAN of Japan Takeo Mori, co-chaired the Meeting. END