ASEAN Maritime Center to beef up bloc defense integration

MANILA, May 13 ------ The planned Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Maritime Center, which will be set up in the Philippines, will allow members of the bloc to integrate their efforts for defense and security, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

"The (ASEAN) Maritime Centre mentioned by the Commander-in-Chief (President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) during the ASEAN (Summit and Related Meetings) in Cebu... will be a good starting point to integrate the efforts of the ASEAN nations, not only for defense and security," AFP spokesperson for the WPS Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said at a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Trinidad said the ASEAN Maritime Center could also be used by member states for coordination in non-traditional crimes, border issues, law enforcement and information sharing. The intended establishment of the ASEAN Maritime Center in the Philippines came with the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation. This declaration reaffirmed the ASEAN’s collective commitment to deepen maritime cooperation and recognize the multi-dimensional nature of maritime issues, including navigation safety, maritime security and regional coordination.

Source: pna.gov.ph