INDOPOSCO.ID – The foreign ministers of ASEAN member states have signaled their openness to adopting a joint agreement aimed at facilitating maritime cooperation, including cooperation among coast guard forces in Southeast Asia.
As this year’s ASEAN chair, the Philippines has proposed the adoption of an ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Cooperation at the 48th ASEAN Summit, scheduled to take place in May.
In a press statement issued after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat in Cebu, the Philippines, on Thursday (Jan. 29, 2026), the foreign ministers welcomed the proposal.
“We welcome the Philippines’ proposal to adopt the ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Cooperation at the 48th ASEAN Summit, which will identify specific initiatives for maritime cooperation,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson for ASEAN affairs Dax Imperial said in a written statement that Manila is expecting to reach “a consensus on cooperation among coast guard forces and the establishment of an ASEAN maritime center.”
Although no further details were disclosed, Imperial stressed that the initiatives to be included in the declaration would still need to be jointly negotiated by ASEAN member states.
In addition to promoting concrete maritime cooperation, the Philippines, as ASEAN chair in 2026, will also seek to accelerate the completion of the Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South China Sea between ASEAN and China, as reported by PNA-OANA via Antara.
The proposed ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Cooperation comes amid concerns expressed by the Philippines and other ASEAN member states over rising tensions in the South China Sea. (aro)
