PH Highlights Importance of Strategic ASEAN Maritime Outlook, Projects to Strengthen Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum

(Photo courtesy of ASEAN)

BALI 16 August 2023 — The Philippines highlighted the importance of incorporating a strategic component into the ASEAN Maritime Outlook at the 13th ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) and presented adopted projects for institutional strengthening at the 11th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF), held in Bali, Indonesia on 02 and 03 August 2023.

Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Maria Angela A. Ponce led the Philippine delegation with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of ASEAN Affairs.

The ASEAN Maritime Outlook is an Indonesian initiative that aims to serve as a single reference for ongoing maritime cooperation efforts across ASEAN bodies and mechanisms. The Philippines emphasized that the ASEAN Maritime Outlook must go beyond the stocktaking of existing efforts and “identify the trends, opportunities and challenges, and offer policy recommendations for ASEAN’s consideration.”

The Philippines also proposed expanded cooperation on capacity building, particularly on the recently concluded international agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and decarbonization in shipping in this year’s EAMF. The Philippines likewise underscored the issue of sea level rise and the need to uphold and implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly its dispute settlement mechanism.

As Manila served as host of the previous iterations of the AMF and the EAMF in Manila last December, the Philippines also reported on ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting of the adoption of projects it shepherded with Australia such as the development of an EAMF website and the creation of a pool of experts from whom the EAMF can tap for policy briefs. The Philippines and Australia are currently in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat on the implementation of both projects.

Both the AMF and the EAMF are important platforms for promoting maritime cooperation and dialogue in the region as they serve as a forum for ASEAN member states and dialogue partners to discuss common maritime issues and challenges. 

The Philippines hosted the previous iterations of the AMF and the EAMF in Manila last December. END

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