Pinas, US tinapos na ang usapan para palakasin ang pagpapatupad ng maritime law

TINAPOS na ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos ang kanilang pag-uusap para palakasin ang kanilang pagsisikap sa pagpapatupad sa joint maritime law sa layuning muling pagtibayin ang ugnayan para tugunan ang mga maritime challenge.

Sa katunayan, nagpulong ang mga opisyal ng magkabilang panig sa Maynila, araw ng Huwebes, Oct. 24, para sa 3rd Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue, isang pag-uusap para muling pagtibayin ang ‘shared commitment’ ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos upang panindigan ang United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at rules-based international order.

Ang pagpupulong ay co-chair ni Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez ng Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin ng Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) ng US State Department.

Ayon sa DFA, ang “comprehensive and substantive discussions revolved around maritime law enforcement, especially information sharing, capacity building and joint operations, as well as modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).”

Pinag-usapan naman sa miting ang ‘joint efforts’ para tugunan ang ‘illegal, unreported at unregulated’ na pangingisda sa rehiyon at patuloy na kolaborasyon sa marine environmental conservation at climate change initiatives, lalo na sa ‘blue economy initiatives, marine scientific research, at oil spill response’.

“The two sides also exchanged information on how to improve maritime policy coordination, including in legislation and international ocean governance, ang sinabi ng DFA.

“They also exchanged views on recent developments in the South China Sea and how to effectively address the various challenges while also promoting peace and stability in the region, ” ang winika pa rin ng departamento.

Sinabi naman ni Alferez, sa kanyang opening remark, na ang dayalogo ay “a testament” para palakasin ang Alyansa at shared commitment para panindigan ang ‘free, open at secure maritime environment.’

Idinagdag pa nito na ang dalawang bansa ay “must continue to assess and discuss our current responses to ensure they are sufficient to counter evolving challenges.”

“This third iteration of the dialogue builds upon the partnership emphasized in the recent 4th PHL-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held in July in Manila, where both countries highlighted the importance of maritime security and maritime cooperation as pillars of the alliance,” aniya pa rin.

Ang Estados Unidos ang magho-host ng ng 4th Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue sa 2025. (Daris Jose)