Philippines, Japan Hold Sixth Maritime Dialogue
MAKATI 05 December 2024 - The Philippines and Japan convened their 6th Maritime Dialogue in Manila. Co-chairing the dialogue were Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez of the Department of Foreign Affairs - Maritime and Oceans Affairs Office, and Deputy Director-General Shingo Miyamoto of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department.
The maritime dialogue was another milestone in what has been a landmark year for the Philippines-Japan strategic partnership. The countries engaged in a rich discussion and on their robust and productive engagements on maritime security, maritime domain awareness, marine environmental protection, multilateral affairs, and legal matters, as well as important collaboration on maritime cooperative activities, and vessel acquisition and maintenance.
Amid continuing challenges in the maritime domain, including in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the rule of law and a rules-based international order, and emphasized the need to pursue peaceful means to settle disputes. They emphasized the importance of upholding UNCLOS as the constitution of the oceans, and also reaffirmed that the 2016 Award on the South China Sea Arbitration is final and legally-binding.
The two sides also expressed eagerness to continue existing maritime engagements within the context of the strategic partnership and to deepen new areas of cooperation, especially towards the convening of the 7th Maritime Dialogue to be hosted by Japan in 2025.
Both sides also looked forward to the upcoming Philippines-Japan-United States Trilateral Maritime Dialogue in December 2024. END