NAVAL STATION JOSE ANDRADA, Manila – The Philippine Navy (PN) and the Department of National Defense (DND), with the Japan Ministry of Defense and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, hosted the 21st ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group (EWG) on Maritime Security from November 05 to 08, 2024. 

The event brought together defense and naval leaders from ASEAN and Plus member states, including Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States, to address maritime issues such as climate change mitigation and marine environment protection.

With the theme “Enhancing Maritime Security and Protection in a Changing World,” the meeting fostered collaboration in safeguarding marine ecosystems and addressing climate change. Participants shared best practices aligned with the EWG on MS Roadmap 2040, reaffirming the critical role of defense and navies in ensuring a stable, peaceful, and sustainable maritime future.

The PN also introduced the ASEAN Navy Chief Meeting (ANCM) Guidelines on Maritime Interaction (GMI), while Singapore presented the Guidelines on Air Military Encounters (GAME) which signify ASEAN’s collective commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific region in adherence to international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Reinforcing the Navy’s commitment to advancing maritime security, Rear Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, PN Flag Officer In Command, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in preserving marine protected areas and addressing maritime challenges while ASec. Marita Yoro, Asst. Secretary for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs, DND highlighted ASEAN’s central role in advancing collective defense and maritime security in Philippine foreign policy.

PUBLISHED BY:    Naval Public Affairs Office (NPAO) CDR JOHN PERCIE A ALCOS PN(GSC) Director, Naval Public Affairs Office