MUMBAI, INDIA — Philippine insights stimulated constructive discussion at a key regional conference on maritime security cooperation held in India’s key port city and financial capital of Mumbai on 4-5 July 2024.
The 6th East Asia Summit (EAS) Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation brought together over 60 government officials and technical experts from the EAS’ 18 participating countries. The Conference was organized by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in partnership with the Australian and Indonesian governments.
The Philippines was represented by its Embassy in New Delhi, led by Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio, Third Secretary Mark Anthony P. Dizon, and Third Secretary Melissa Anne M. Telan.
MEA ​Secretary (East) Shri Jaideep Mazumdar keynoted the event, which provided a forum for interactive and informative discussions on developments, challenges and opportunities in the maritime sphere.
Focus was on issues crucial to an open, inclusive, transparent, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. These were tackled in six thematic sessions.
Ambassador Ignacio was a panelist in two of the six sessions, namely, synergies between the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP); and Regional Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
The Ambassador’s remarks on behalf of the Philippines and responses in the ensuing Q&A sessions were well received. In particular, his emphasis on the importance of MDA as encompassing the comprehensive understanding and management of maritime-related resonated strongly, earning repeated references throughout the two-day event.
Dating back to 2005, the EAS is the premier Leaders-led forum for dialogue and cooperation on broad strategic, political, and economic issues of common interest and concern, with the aim of promoting peace, stability, and economic prosperity in East Asia. Its members are the 10 ASEAN Member States plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United States and the Russian Federation.
The EAS Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation is a signature event organized by India in cooperation with partners, as a commitment to strengthen ASEAN-led EAS mechanisms and support implementation of the EAS Plan of Action for 2024-2028. END
