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Transcript E&OE
Bec Strating, Director of La Trobe Asia
What a wonderful way to start our maritime conference here today. Secretary Manalo is a seasoned diplomat and foreign policy leader appointed to his current role in July 2022. Secretary Manalo has been a professional diplomat for over 4 1/2 decades. He has twice been appointed Under Secretary for Policy and previously served as acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he has been the Philippines Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, as well as the United Kingdom and Belgium. So that is quite a CV. Please join me in welcoming honourable Enrique Manalo to the podium.
Secretary Manalo, Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Thank you. For Minister Penny Wong, my dear friend and colleague. Esteemed guests from government, colleagues in the diplomatic corps, private sector and academia, dear friends, good morning to you all. I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land in which we meet and pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging.
Good morning. It's my great pleasure to address this maritime Cooperation forum on the sidelines of the ASEAN and Australia Special Summit, I have just I arrived the other day from Canberra where President Marcos completed a very successful visit to Australia, where among others, he addressed the Australian Parliament and his visit there further cemented the Philippine Australia's strategic partnership. This week we witnessed a discourse as vibrant as the city of Melbourne on themes vital to the abiding connection between ASEAN and Australia. These themes, including business, climate and clean energy, youth and leadership and maritime cooperation, span topics of relevance not only to the future of this relationship, but also to the future of Asia and the Indo Pacific. This forum will focus on what is obvious and salient reality to ASEAN and Australia. Our connectedness in our oceans and seas, and our shared responsibility in their stewardship. Living by the water is a familiar experience to many Australians, the majority of whom live within few kilometres of the coastline. For the 686 million citizens of ASEAN, it is no different. The seas and oceans are synonymous with tradition, livelihood, if not life itself. Consider the Philippines. We are an archipelago of over 7600 islands with one of the longest coastlines in the world at 36,289 kilometres. These islands in fact make up only one sixth of our territory, 5 sixths of which are water bodies within and around these landforms. In the expanse between ASEAN and Australia are our brethren in the Pacific nations who have and as us our inheritors of the Austronesian heritage and follow stewards, fellow stewards of the journey of the Indo Pacific. So our geography and history underline this connectedness, which makes maritime cooperation more a necessity than a choice.
Colleagues, the ASEAN outlook on the Indo Pacific or as we call it the AOIP whereby ASEAN highlights the importance of the maritime domain in the evolving regional architecture and includes maritime cooperation as among its four priority areas. So this forum brings to us the aims of the ALP and marries in many respects for maritime cooperation as it recognises the challenges we face in the maritime domain, which cannot be addressed by any country on its own. Addressing issues in this global Commons which are not bound by lines of political cartography, require goodwill, mutual trust, adherence to rules, and a common vision. Last August, we organised in Manila a dialogue on the maritime governance in the South China Sea on this very premise, the dialogue brought together a distinguished group of experts, thinkers and practitioners to discuss the critical issues directly impacting the daily lives of citizens of coastal states in the backdrop of geopolitical complexities. The South China Sea, which lies at the heart of Southeast Asia, flanked by the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean on the West and the Pacific Ocean on the east, is, as we all know, a maritime region of strategic importance. Through the centuries, it has been a vital trade route, a fount of one of the world's most precious marine biodiversity and a source of sustenance to citizens in the literal states. The South China Sea holds an even more promising future as a hub where blue economies could emerge reminiscent of the pulsating maritime trade that historically connected the peoples of the region with each other and with nature. However, such future will only be possible if nations in the region resolve to uphold cooperation over confrontation and diplomacy over the use or the threat of use of force. For the South China Sea and the seas and oceans of the Indo Pacific to be unifying domains of peace, stability and prosperity, we need to gather more strong, more strongly around the collective responsibility as well as a shared sense of stewardship. Solidarity around the rule of law, especially in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is a necessary starting point for this. UNCLOS, as the Constitution of the oceans, provides the fundamental anchor for cooperation in the maritime domain and for resolving maritime disputes. The Philippines has invested heavily in UNCLOS ever since its inception, advancing with Indonesia and other states for the distinct rights for archipelagic nations. And we take pride in our active involvement in the negotiations for the 1982 UNCLOS as well as the conventional and biological diversity and the UN Biodiversity Agreement on areas beyond national jurisdiction or as we call it, the BBNJ treaty. And through these we have demonstrated our commitment to promoting fair, just and inclusive governance of the maritime Commons. In the same spirit, the Philippines pursued the South China Sea arbitration with the aim of upholding the rule of law and promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes. The binding 2016 Arbitral award is now part of international law. The shared stewardship of the Seas and oceans in the region behoves us to unite in preserving the primacy of international law, so we can ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes for all. It also calls for us to stand firmly together in opposing actions that contradict or are inconsistent with international law. Ladies and gentlemen, in his address to the Australian parliament last week, President Ferdinand Marcos junior recounted the historical context where the partnership between the Philippines and Australia that seeks to reinforce each other's strengths as we contribute more to reinforcing the regional and global rules based order, President Marcus junior underscored that geopolitics should not paralyse global governance and that the existence of competition should encourage, rather than preclude, cooperation. In a region facing, recently facing very significant geopolitical shifts, ASEAN and Australia actively pursue diplomacy and cooperation not only through our dialogue partnership, but also through ASEAN led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit. And aiming to drive action towards more synergy, ASEAN published the inaugural ASEAN Maritime Outlook last year. This takes stock of all maritime related efforts of ASEAN and also provides a map that points to the future contours of maritime cooperation in the region and we encourage all our partners, especially Australia, to make full use of the outlook.
Let me now highlight five specific areas of special importance to the Philippines in relation to the day, to the days discussions. Firstly, bilateral defence and maritime security. We pursue and honour mutually beneficial arrangements, including with Australia, as part of our duty to strengthen the rules based security architecture and preserve regional and global peace, security and stability. The Philippines considers this a duty which is sacred as being a founding member of the United Nations and ASEAN.
Secondly, marine Environment Protection and biodiversity conservation. Healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems are a matter of survival for millions of communities in the region. They guarantee the flourishing of blue economies. Preserving marine biodiversity also means greater food security and climate resilience. Undeterred, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or IUUF destroys marine habitats, depletes fish stocks worldwide and threatens the food and livelihood of millions. The ASEAN, Centre for Biodiversity hosted by the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna, was established in 2005 as ASEAN's response to biodiversity laws, and we invite all partners, including Australia, to actively engage the ACB in its role as a regional hub for knowledge sharing, capacity building and partnerships.
Thirdly, marine and ocean Science, ASEAN and Australia both have the most extensive and diverse coral reefs in the world. And our marine fishery production is highly dependent on these critical habitats. These marine resources are under threat from multiple factors, including overfishing, pollution and climate change. And we must work together to generate the science and apply innovative technologies that we need to manage, protect and preserve our precious marine resources and sustainably harness their potential to serve mankind in the frontiers of medicine, food security and climate resilient.
Fourthly, addressing marine debris, we look forward to Australia's continued support for the ASEAN Regional Auction plan for combating marine debris in the ASEAN member states. Joint efforts of governments and stakeholders are necessary to translate this plan into national and local legislation in order to restore and to preserve the health of our seas and oceans.
And fifthly, the Philippines, with its shipbuilding and seafaring heritage, places strong emphasis on maritime transport. Decarbonization in shipping is a new avenue for ASEAN, Australia, collaboration one that potentially would place the region ahead of the global curve in adopting new standards and technology. This will better align the regional industry with global climate change goals while unlocking new economic opportunities. With Filipino nationals accounting for the highest number of the global seafaring workforce, the Philippines supports initiatives for upskilling Global maritime professionals for a greener shipping industry. Australia is welcome to support ASEAN's well developed framework for cooperation in maritime transport, including in modernising ports through digitalization and innovation.
Friends, Colleagues, as a final point, I would like to invite attention to the need for knowledge sharing and cooperation and the application of maritime law to issues such as deep sea mining, sea level rise and biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. With Australia support, the Philippines hosted a regional workshop on the BBNJ Treaty last November to socialise the treaty in the regional consciousness. The entry into force of the BBNJ treaty is in the interest of all humanity. ASEAN and Australia can continue playing an active role in both the ratification process and in this meaningful implementation. Sea level rise urgently requires attention in terms of its immediate impact on communities and its implications on international law. ASEAN and Australia can build on their work and strengthening UNCLOS by exploring how its dispute settlement mechanisms can also be used to resolve conflicts caused by rising sea levels.
So let me conclude then by stating that in the past half century, of the ASEAN Australia dialogue partner is an indication our relationship is on a very sound path of progress and growth. As steadfast and engaged partners across all pillars, ASEAN and Australia have forged and driven a comprehensive strategic partnership that is true to its name. I wish this forum all the success in fostering greater understanding of our common interest and shared duty as stewards of our seas and oceans. Thank you very much.