Quad raises concern on South China Sea situation

MANILA, Philippines — Top diplomats from the “Quad” group of nations have expressed serious concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas, which they said “threaten peace and stability in the region.”

In a joint statement released following the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington on July 1, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. 

“We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of the freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous maneuvers by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea,” they said.

Without directly naming China, the ministers also said they are seriously concerned by the militarization of disputed features in the area.

“We emphasize the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the ministers noted.

Chinese vessels have repeatedly harassed Philippine ships in the West Philippine Sea in recent months.

The ministers reaffirmed that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, and reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016 is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to defending the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

During the meeting, the four leaders discussed the opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific and how they can further harness the strengths and resources of the Quad to advance peace, security and prosperity, working with the regional partners.

To ensure the Quad’s enduring impact, the ministers announced a new agenda focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. 

The ministers reiterated their cooperation and support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its centrality and unity, the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific-led regional groupings and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

Defense partnership

The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Hawaii National Guard yesterday reaffirmed each other’s commitment to their long-standing defense partnership.

DND Undersecretary for civil, veterans, and reserve affairs Pablo Lorenzo met with Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, the adjutant general of the Hawaii National Guard, during a courtesy call at Camp Aguinaldo to discuss the continuing collaboration.

During the meeting, Lorenzo and Logan reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States through the State Partnership Program.

Lorenzo conveyed appreciation for the 25-year collaboration between the Hawaii National Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), emphasizing its critical role in strengthening interoperability, humanitarian assistance and disaster response and security operations.

He also discussed the DND’s continuing efforts to harmonize and professionalize the AFP Reserve Force, aligning it with the country’s evolving security landscape.

Logan, for his part, expressed Hawaii’s full support in this endeavor, citing their extensive experience in mobilizing reserve components during both military contingencies and disaster response operations.

Recognizing the shared challenges of their archipelagic geographies, the DND said both parties expressed interest in further enhancing cooperation in disaster preparedness and response, leveraging each other’s resources and expertise to build more resilient communities. — Michael Punongbayan