During the 48th Asean Summit, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed strong support for the establishment of the proposed Asean Maritime Center. This initiative seeks to enhance maritime safety and regional security.
The center aims to protect crucial trade routes while addressing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a region fraught with tensions among several nations.
What we are working for is the continued freedom of navigation and the peaceful navigation in the South China Sea.
President Marcos
Marcos highlighted that the maritime center would focus on ensuring safety and order, crucial for maintaining freedom of navigation. This proposal comes in light of ongoing disputes involving claims by China, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian nations.
A recent Asean declaration emphasized the importance of creating a substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Despite the 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejecting China's expansive claims, Marcos clarified that the maritime center is not intended to confront any specific country.
The proposed center will serve as a hub for maritime policies and coordinated responses among Asean members, addressing issues such as illegal fishing and human trafficking.
Marcos stressed the importance of securing sea lanes, as a significant portion of global trade transits through the South China Sea. He warned of severe economic repercussions if these routes are disrupted.
If such a thing could happen in the South China Sea, the inevitable consequences would be alarming.
President Marcos
Although Asean leaders have agreed on the center's creation, Marcos stated that a timeline for its establishment has not yet been set. He remains optimistic about its future.
Marcos concluded by emphasizing the need to develop a framework for the maritime center's operations.