From Rappler (Oct 18, 2020): Beyond West Philippine Sea, diplomats defend waters behind the scenes (By SOFIA TOMACRUZ)
Filipino diplomats have met with officials from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Palau to discuss maritime interests beyond the Philippines’ sea dispute with China
While the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China takes much of the spotlight, Filipino diplomats have been quietly working to fortify the Philippines’ maritime boundaries and strengthen ties with neighbors.
Recent presentations from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 2021 budget hearings, along with reports from the agency’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO), showed Manila’s efforts go beyond the heated issue of the West Philippine Sea.
In the past year, Filipino diplomats met with officials from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Palau, among others, to discuss maritime interests.
With these discussions, the Philippines looks at possible areas of cooperation with other countries, from security and research to environmental protection and fisheries.
Here are key developments:
1. Philippines-Japan
In June 2019, the Philippines and Japan revived its formal dialogue on maritime and ocean affairs for the first time in 6 years.
Former Maritime and Ocean Affairs assistant secretary Generoso Calonge told Rappler the revival of discussions was prompted by a decision by Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr and former Japanese foreign minister Kōno Tarō after a meeting held in Davao in February 2019.
The dialogue was created to determine which areas in the maritime sector both Manila and Tokyo can cooperate on, with a focus on maritime security. Its first meeting was held in Tokyo in September 2011, while its second meeting took place in Manila in February 2013.
During the meeting in June 2019, the Philippines sought Japan’s support to establish a university in the Philippines that would focus on maritime affairs. Japan, meanwhile, shared its best practices in developing exclusive economic zones.
2. Philippines-Indonesia
Like Japan, key bilateral discussions were also revived with Indonesia for the first time in 3 years.
This took place in September 2019 when the Philippines and Indonesia held its 10th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC) in Yogyakarta.
The meeting came on the heels of a historic maritime deal finally entering into force 25 years after it was first discussed by the Philippines and Indonesia in June 1994. The treaty, which took effect in August 2019, drew a boundary between the countries’ overlapping exclusive economic zones.
During the JPWG–MOC meeting, the two countries discussed cooperation on search and rescue efforts, fisheries, and the delimitation of continental shelves, among others.
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Recent presentations from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 2021 budget hearings, along with reports from the agency’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO), showed Manila’s efforts go beyond the heated issue of the West Philippine Sea.
In the past year, Filipino diplomats met with officials from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Palau, among others, to discuss maritime interests.
With these discussions, the Philippines looks at possible areas of cooperation with other countries, from security and research to environmental protection and fisheries.
Here are key developments:
1. Philippines-Japan
In June 2019, the Philippines and Japan revived its formal dialogue on maritime and ocean affairs for the first time in 6 years.
Former Maritime and Ocean Affairs assistant secretary Generoso Calonge told Rappler the revival of discussions was prompted by a decision by Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr and former Japanese foreign minister Kōno Tarō after a meeting held in Davao in February 2019.
The dialogue was created to determine which areas in the maritime sector both Manila and Tokyo can cooperate on, with a focus on maritime security. Its first meeting was held in Tokyo in September 2011, while its second meeting took place in Manila in February 2013.
During the meeting in June 2019, the Philippines sought Japan’s support to establish a university in the Philippines that would focus on maritime affairs. Japan, meanwhile, shared its best practices in developing exclusive economic zones.
2. Philippines-Indonesia
Like Japan, key bilateral discussions were also revived with Indonesia for the first time in 3 years.
This took place in September 2019 when the Philippines and Indonesia held its 10th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC) in Yogyakarta.
The meeting came on the heels of a historic maritime deal finally entering into force 25 years after it was first discussed by the Philippines and Indonesia in June 1994. The treaty, which took effect in August 2019, drew a boundary between the countries’ overlapping exclusive economic zones.
During the JPWG–MOC meeting, the two countries discussed cooperation on search and rescue efforts, fisheries, and the delimitation of continental shelves, among others.
MUST READ
Philippines-Indonesia maritime boundary treaty now in force
3. Philippines-Vietnam
In October 2019, the Philippines and Vietnam also convened the 8th Meeting of the Philippines-Vietnam (PH-VN) Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns (JPWG-MOC).
It was the first time the key bilateral mechanism was done in 8 years, following the two countries’ last JPWG-MOC meeting in August 2011. Bilateral talks on the permanent working group became inactive after the the two countries had decided to elevate talks to the vice-ministerial level in 2011.
During the two countries’ meeting in October 2019, the Philippines and Vietnam discussed cooperation on maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, fisheries, and marine scientific research.
4. Philippines-Palau
Discussion were also held between the Philippines and Palau in November 2019.
The 4th Technical Panel Meeting on the Maritime Boundaries saw both countries discuss their positions on maritime boundaries and agree to continue talks to reach a resolution on the issue.
The Philippines and Palau are neighboring countries that share maritime boundaries with Palau located southeast of the Philippines.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/beyond-west-philippine-sea-filipino-diplomats-defend-philippines-waters
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