PH, UK Chiefs of Asian Affairs Exchange Regional Security Views

Philippine Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Nathaniel G. Imperial (left) and United Kingdom Director for North East Asia and China Dan Chugg of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (right) at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

MANILA 17 March 2023 – The chiefs of East Asian affairs of the foreign ministries of the Philippines and the UK met on Monday to exchange views on developments in the Asia-Pacific region, including security and maritime issues on 08 March 2023.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Neal Imperial and his British counterpart, Director for North East Asia and China Dan Chugg of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, had an extensive discussion on regional security and maritime tensions in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

During the meeting, Assistant Secretary Imperial shared that one of the strategies of the Philippines for regional stability is the use of a wide and multifaceted diplomatic engagement with key Asian countries.

“The first foreign trips of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was to Southeast Asian countries and fellow ASEAN members, Indonesia and Singapore in 2022. Meanwhile, in early 2023 there were visits to key regional partners with President Marcos conducting a State visit to China in January and an official visit to Japan in February,” Assistant Secretary Imperial said during the meeting. In all these trips, significant agreements were signed and tens of billions in pledged investments were made.

The two officials also exchanged views on the economic importance of the Asia-Pacific and agreed that differences must be handled through diplomacy and dialogue in order to avoid escalation and conflict.

“The Philippines has been thrust into the frontlines of geopolitical developments in the region and it is important to cultivate closer ties with regional powers as well as like-minded countries in Europe,” the Assistant Secretary said. END