Manila, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have agreed to step up maritime policy and operational cooperation amid tensions in the South China Sea.
At the second Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue on July 21 in Washington, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for maritime and ocean affairs Maria Angela Ponce underscored that “the rising tensions and critical situation in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea and the persistent and evolving challenges to the rules-based international order drive us to enhance ways to respond faster, and in a more coordinated and effective manner.”
Ponce led the Philippine delegation together with Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jung Pak of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the US Department of State led the US delegation.
Both sides emphasized their commitment to maintain the rules-based international order in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, in line with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
The two delegations also discussed the broad scope of Philippine-US bilateral maritime cooperation engagements and proposals, including measures to enhance combating transnational crimes at sea, addressing illicit, unreported and unregulated fishing, and protecting and conserving the marine environment.
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