CEBU — The establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Center in the Philippines is one of the key discussion points in this year's edition of the summit.
In the Political Security Community meeting on Thursday, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro underscored the importance of maritime cooperation in the region.
"Equally vital is the need to advance maritime security and cooperation. As a region linked by our seas, the maritime domain remains central to our pursuit of stability and prosperity," Lazaro said.
"It is in this context that the Philippines underscores the importance of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation, recognising the multi-dimensional nature of maritime issues and underscoring the importance of enhancing coordination among AMS," the Foreign Affairs Secretary added.
"An important aspect of this cooperation is the proposed establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Centre here in the Philippines."
The proposal comes as the Philippines continued its call for a legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct, which seeks to prevent conflict in the waters.
In an earlier briefing, DFA Spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation was among three key outcome documents to be considered by the regional leaders.
"[This] underscores the region’s commitment to advancing maritime cooperation through concrete initiatives such as the inclusion of the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum as an ASEAN sectoral body and the proposed establishment of the ASEAN Maritime Center in the Philippines," Imperial said.
CYBERSECURITY
Lazaro also noted that threats on cybersecurity remained a pressing concern for the region.
"In the realm of cybersecurity, we remained concerned of emerging threats, including the use of artificial intelligence for criminal purposes, necessitating a robust and coordinated approach in this area, such as through capacity-building and information-sharing initiatives," Lazaro said.
"It is also within the political-security pillar that we strengthen regional efforts to effectively address transnational crime," she added.
The Political Security Community of ASEAN met on Thursday ahead of the Leaders' Summit.
"Our vision is crystal clear: a peaceful, stable and secure region based on the fundamental principles as enshrined in the ASEAN Charter, the UN Charter and principles of international law," Lazaro said.
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