Philippines, Australia Enhance Cooperation in 3rd Maritime Dialogue

Philippine Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Angela A. Ponce (left) shakes hand with Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, US and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division First Assistant Secretary Dr. Peter Sawczak (right). (DFA Photo by Camille Barizo)

MANILA 06 July 2023 — The Philippines hosted the 3rd Philippines-Australia Maritime Dialogue on 05 July 2022 in Manila.

Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and First Assistant Secretary Dr. Peter Sawczak of the US and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade led their respective delegations for a deeper and more integrated bilateral cooperation and coordination on common interests in maritime affairs. 

Discussions focused on regional maritime threats and challenges, maritime safety and security cooperation, and marine environmental protection, with key Philippine maritime and security agencies participating in the Maritime Dialogue, across the table from their Australian counterparts. Both delegations also discussed defense cooperation, bilateral and regional maritime cooperation initiatives, other opportunities for close collaboration, and cooperation in international organizations. 

“The Department of Foreign Affairs has long had the mandate to expand and deepen bilateral political, economic and people to people relations, but we have not always had counterparts when we have wanted to expand the discourse in the maritime space. Until, that is, we were met with the level of interest and commitment of the Government of Australia, and were able to craft this new generation of maritime dialogues, complementing the political track.  The positive outcomes of this platform in 2021” led to the continued partnership, with a 3rd iteration in 2023.  “The partnership with Australia in the maritime space set the trend towards a fuller realization of the role maritime security and cooperation plays in the bilateral agenda– which is only natural given that both the Philippines and Australia are maritime nations,” said Assistant Secretary Ponce in her remarks, underscoring the centrality of maritime issues in PH foreign policy.

A Track 1.5 Dialogue preceded the Maritime Dialogue with both the foreign ministries’ partner institutions taking the lead, which are the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea for the Philippines, and La Trobe Asia for Australia. 

The Australian delegation also visited the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Coast Watch Center Operations Room. They also went aboard the 56-meter Search and Rescue Vessel (SARV) BRP Batangas, one of the 8 SARVs made by the Australian company Tenix Defence Systems and turned over to the PCG in the early 2000s. The PCG noted that these Tenix-made SARVs were the workhorse of the Philippine Coast Guard in the performance of its functions in maritime safety, maritime security and law and enforcement, search and rescue, and marine environmental protection. 

The delegations of the Philippines and Australia expect to meet again at the 4th PH-AU Maritime Dialogue in 2024. END

Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Angela A. Ponce during the meeting. (DFA Photo by Camille Barizo)