PH hosts ASEAN Maritime Security Forum

MANILA, Philippines – The 3rd ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) and the 1st Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) kicked off on Wednesday, October 3, with participants expected to debate key maritime issues such as the relevance of existing international laws.

“As a nation composed of 7,107 islands with a strong maritime tradition, the Philippines is in my opinion, the most natural venue to host this forum,” Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a keynote speech.

The meetings, to he held from October 3 to 5 and chaired by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda F. Basilio, will focus on promoting maritime security and cooperation, ensuring freedom of navigation and combating sea piracy, protecting the marine environment and promoting eco-tourism and fishery regimes in the region.

Guest speakers from international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) will also take part in the discussions, the DFA said in a statement.

On Friday, the 1st EAMF will bring together government officials, academics and experts from the 18 members of the East Asia Summit to discuss maritime security and cooperation.

This expanded group includes the 10 ASEAN member countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

The participants will debate the relevance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), opportunities to enhance maritime connectivity in the region, capacity building, infrastructure and equipment upgrading, seafarers training, and best practices in marine environment protection and eco-tourism.

UNCLOS is an international treaty that sets limits on how much of neighbouring seas a nation can consider as their territorial waters or exclusive economic zone.

Binay said that UNCLOS — frequently invoked by ASEAN to resolve territorial disputes with China — should be the frame for any discussion about maritime security in East Asia.

China is a signatory to the treaty, but experts say its claim of essentially all of the South China Sea, home to vital shipping lanes and believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits, would fail under its provisions.

“Providing an equally profound frame to our efforts is the 30th anniversary of UNCLOS. We are reminded of our equally crucial duty to reaffirm our resolve and commitment to uphold the principles of this seminal international law,” noted Binay. – Rappler.com