Experts and defense officials are urging stronger regional cooperation and effective ocean governance, emphasizing that the Indo-Pacific’s stability should rely not on power or force, but on shared stewardship, partnerships, and adherence to international law.
This consensus emerged during the forum titled “France and the Philippines: Promoting a Sustainable and Inclusive Maritime Governance in the Indo-Pacific,” organized by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the French Embassy in the Philippines.
The event was organized to spotlight challenges in the West Philippine Sea arising from persistent Chinese aggression.
It brought together key figures from government, defense, and diplomatic sectors as part of the Blue Nations initiative in preparation for the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC).
French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel highlighted that France’s cooperation with the Philippines has deepened through a Letter of Intent signed between the two countries’ defense ministers on December 23, 2024, paving the way for closer collaboration in defense, capacity building, and information exchange.
“Our engagement has moved beyond declarations towards tangible joint initiatives, information sharing, and trust building. We must continue to exchange our assessments of the asymmetric threats we face collectively. Beyond security and sovereignty, we must never forget that the ocean is also a human space, one that sustains lives, livelihoods, and cultures,” Fontanel said.
For his part, Stratbase Institute President Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit emphasized that the Philippines continues to face constant provocation, aggressive encroachment, and even the weaponization of environmental issues by China, which undermine sovereign rights, freedom of navigation, global trade, and the integrity of shared maritime commons.
“Effective maritime governance is not only defending one’s territory but also ensuring the seas remain a shared space of peace, prosperity, and sustainability, and France remains a steadfast partner of the Philippines in this endeavor,” Manhit shared.
“We believe that the Philippines cannot—and should not—stand alone. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting cooperation among like-minded states such as France, upholding international law, and ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific,” he added.
Meanwhile, National Maritime Council Spokesperson retired Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez said that the West Philippine Sea has become the frontline of Chinese gray zone activities, characterized by illegal, coercive, and aggressive maneuvers such as the recent incident near Pag-asa Island.
He urged deeper cooperation between the Philippines and France through shared surveillance data, satellite technologies, and coordinated research to build a maritime governance framework that is integrated, sustainable, and inclusive.
“We need to reaffirm our shared commitment to protect our oceans, to empower our peoples, and to safeguard peace for the benefit of the generations who will inherit these blue frontiers for the Indo-Pacific we call home,” Lopez said.
“Allow me to emphasize that the Indo-Pacific’s future will not be written by the strongest navy or the largest economy. It will be written by those who can govern the seas wisely, inclusively, and sustainably,” he added.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela emphasized that maritime governance is not secondary to conflict, but central to ensuring safety, sustainability, and sovereignty.
“Maritime governance is no mere sidebar to conflict. It is the very compass of our ocean stewardship, spanning maritime safety, regulatory frameworks, marine environmental protection, law enforcement, and security,” Tarriela said.
He underscored the importance of investing in education, capacity building, and vessel acquisition, as well as strengthening collaboration with the French Navy to enhance maritime security.
“This brings me to the significance of the French-Philippine maritime cooperation, from early focuses on safety and economic connectivity, to bolstering law enforcement capability of the Coast Guard asset, to today’s united front against illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive maneuvering of the People’s Republic of China,” the official stressed.
Tarriela also urged that the West Philippine Sea be treated as an election issue, reminding Filipinos of the stakes involved in defending the country’s maritime rights.
“We have to work so hard, double our efforts, to once again get the support of the international community to make use of the 2016 Arbitral Award to leverage our position,” he said.
