Marcos: Stronger ASEAN-US collaboration needed to address maritime security, transnational crime

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the US need to have a stronger collaboration to address maritime security issues and transnational crime.

“Let us continue our cooperation in fighting against illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and also in combating marine plastic debris and marine pollution,” Marcos said in his intervention during the 10th ASEAN-US Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Marcos also said ASEAN appreciates the US' active advocacy and concrete projects supporting efforts to address transnational crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.

He also asked that the engagement and capacity-building programs for law enforcement agencies and personnel through the International Law Enforcement Academy and the Senior Officials’ Meeting on Transnational Crime + US (SOMTC + US) be continued.

Marcos also said the country is fully committed to attain regional peace and security.

“We regard as of primary import Quad’s assurance of unwavering support for ASEAN unity and Centrality with the view that such minilateral mechanisms should complement the ASEAN-centered regional security architecture,” he said.

The President was referring to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, a strategic security dialog between the US, Australia, India, and Japan.

On Saturday, the ASEAN and US leaders adopted a statement declaring the establishment of the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

This “is a strengthening of our relationship and will serve as an additional anchor to our regional architecture and to the current international order that is presently volatile and constantly in flux," Marcos said.

The statement was adopted to “reflect the ambitious outcomes of the 9th ASEAN-US Summit and the 2022 ASEAN-US Special Summit and to open new areas of cooperation vital to the future prosperity and security of our combined one billion people, and task our officials to follow up on its implementation.” —KG, GMA Integrated News