Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Adm. Adeluis Bordado has pushed for strengthened cooperation between the navies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be able to curb emerging maritime challenges in the region.
Bordado made this remark during the viewpoint exchange of the 16th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting (ANCM) held in Bali, Indonesia.
“Vice Admiral Bordado highlighted the collective responsibility of ASEAN and ASEAN navies to strengthen lines of communication, engage in functional cooperation, and find new avenues of collaboration,” said Philippine Navy spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza in a statement Wednesday.
Bordado said ASEAN navies must work together to address several transboundary maritime security challenges that no single country can face alone.
“Acknowledging the array of maritime security threats in the Southeast Asian region, this year’s iteration emphasized the vital role of Asean navies in addressing these challenges through cooperation,” Negranza said.
The Philippine Navy also presented the concepts for the workshop for the crafting of the ANCM Guidelines for Maritime Interaction, the 17th Asean Navy Chiefs’ Meeting, and the 2nd Asean Multilateral Naval Exercise.
The delegation also conducted bilateral talks with several ASEAN Navy counterparts.
“The Philippine Navy’s articipation in the ANCM allows it to enhance its relations with counterpart navies because it provides an avenue to exchange ideas about strategic steps that can be taken together to maintain maritime security in Southeast Asia. It also offers opportunities to collaborate with Asean navies, especially in areas where it shares mutual concerns,” Negranza said.
The Philippines will host the 17th ANCM in Manila next year.