ASEAN Maritime Security Dialogue starts in Manila

Key Concepts:

• ASEAN Maritime Security Dialogue
• ASEAN Summit
• Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea
• South China Sea disputes
• UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)
• The "ASEAN Way" (consensus-based approach)
• Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA)
• West Philippine Sea

1. ASEAN Maritime Security Dialogue and ASEAN Summit:

• The ASEAN Maritime Security Dialogue commenced in Manila, a 3-day event.
• The dialogue precedes the annual ASEAN Summit, where regional security issues are expected to be central.
• The dialogue gathers representatives from all 10 ASEAN member states, regional experts, and marine scientists.

2. Absence of US and China:

• The dialogue is organized by the NGO "We Protect the Seas."
• Notably, the US and China are absent from the dialogue.
• Organizers state this absence is deliberate, allowing members to focus on regional issues without external influence.

3. Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA):

• Joint maritime drills, the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA), were held by the US and the Philippines in the South China Sea the same week as the summit.
• This is the first such exercise by the allies' coast guards and air forces.
• Manila states this show of force reflects its "whole of nation approach" to maritime cooperation.

4. Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea:

• The dialogue comes ahead of ASEAN representatives' reported self-imposed deadline to conclude negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea within the next year.
• The COC aims to set norms for the conduct of states in the disputed waters.
• A framework for the COC was endorsed by ASEAN and China in 2017 during the Philippines' chairmanship.
• 2026, when the Philippines again assumes the ASEAN chairmanship, is expected to see intensified talks in Kuala Lumpur for COC negotiations.
• Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo has expressed this expectation.

5. Philippine Commitment:

• Philippine government agencies, including the National Security Council, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Transparency Group of the West Philippine Sea, support the event.
• This support demonstrates the Philippines' commitment to meeting the 2026 deadline for the COC.
• The "West Philippine Sea" is the term the Philippines uses for its maritime zone in the larger South China Sea.

6. Analyst Perspective:

• Analyst Renato Diccastro, a professor at De La Salle University, stated that the dialogue helps gauge challenges and common ground for ASEAN representatives in COC negotiations.

7. Keynote Address and the "ASEAN Way":

• National Security Advisor Eduardo Ano delivered the keynote speech.
• Ano addressed the criticism against ASEAN's consensus-based approach ("the ASEAN Way"), suggesting it could be an obstacle to COC negotiations.
• Ano emphasized the importance of dialogues like this to overcome such obstacles.

8. UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling:

• Quote from Eduardo Ano: "Even if negotiations are moving at a glacial pace, we must ensure that the COC's provisions align fully with international law."
• Ano referred to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which defines a country's maritime zone based on distance from its coast.
• A 2016 arbitral ruling invalidated China's 9- (now 10-) line claim as violating UNCLOS.

9. Additional Discussion Topics:

• Beyond UNCLOS, policy makers and strategic thinkers will discuss ocean conservation and energy security in the next two days.

10. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The ASEAN Maritime Security Dialogue serves as a crucial platform for ASEAN member states to address regional maritime security concerns, particularly in the context of the South China Sea disputes. The absence of the US and China aims to foster a more regionally focused discussion. The dialogue is particularly significant as ASEAN aims to finalize a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, with the Philippines playing a key role in pushing for its completion by 2026. The discussions also highlight the importance of adhering to international law, specifically UNCLOS, and addressing challenges posed by the "ASEAN Way" of consensus-based decision-making. Furthermore, the dialogue extends beyond legal and political aspects to include critical issues like ocean conservation and energy security.