PHNOM PENH—The Philippines raised various priorities, including the assertion of the Arbitral Award in disputed waters, at the 55th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings (AMM).
As Philippine leader to the Asean Senior Officials’ Meeting, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Asean Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro represented Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo during the foreign minister-level meetings in the Cambodian capital city from July 30 to August 5.
The meetings allowed Asean member-states to discuss issues of common concern with each other and with external partners including, among others, the situation in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea (SCS/WPS), the Myanmar crisis, pandemic recovery, situation in Ukraine and cross-strait developments, as well as traditional and nontraditional security issues such as climate change, terrorism and cyber security.
Apart from the 55th AMM, other foreign minister-level meetings included postministerial conferences with dialogue partners, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Asean Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 29th Asean Regional Forum (ARF), and the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Interface Meeting with the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.
During the 55th AMM, Lazaro reiterated that the Arbitral Award and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, are the twin anchors of policy and actions of the Philippines on the SCS/WPS.
She said that while the Philippines remains committed to regional efforts to resolve disputes, it is taking note of the growing list of countries backing the award.
Lazaro expressed hope that the new EAS Plan of Action (2023-2027), which was adopted during the EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, will fuel the momentum of identifying concrete ways to address pressing regional and global challenges such as public-health emergencies, climate change, and emerging opportunities in digital technologies, among the new generation of issues.
She also announced the Philippine hosting of the EAS Workshop on Maritime Cooperation in Manila in September, underscoring that “maritime cooperation will remain at the heart of Philippine initiatives in the [summit].”
As country-coordinator for Asean-European Union Dialogue Relations, the undersecretary cochaired the post-ministerial conference with the latter. The meet adopted the plan of action to Implement the Asean-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027), and approved the convening of the two regions’ Commemorative Summit on December 14 in Brussels to mark 45 years of their dialogue relations.
She also delivered this region’s common statement on the said relations, with focus on cooperation in cyber security, maritime security, trade, connectivity, pandemic response and postpandemic recovery, environmental protection, and addressing climate change.
During the 29th ARF, Lazaro highlighted its importance as a platform for dynamic cooperation on global issues.
Image credits: DFA