The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is pushing for the establishment of an ASEAN Maritime Center in the Philippines as regional leaders move to strengthen maritime cooperation and safeguard freedom of navigation.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the proposal during a press conference following the conclusion of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Marcos clarified, however, that the proposed maritime center is not intended to target or confront any particular country.
“What we are looking for, or what is the ultimate reason for having this Maritime Center is not to confront or not to somehow push back on any single force or any single country,” Marcos said.
The President explained that ASEAN leaders recognized the need for a centralized platform that would focus on maritime issues, policy coordination, and regional cooperation as uncertainties in the South China Sea continue to grow.
“I suppose as the situation in the South China Sea becomes more, shall we say, unreadable, this becomes more important,” he said.
Marcos said the recent disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz highlighted the importance of protecting critical maritime trade routes, warning that a similar disruption in the South China Sea could severely affect global trade, energy supply, and regional economies.
“If such a thing would happen in the South China Sea, the inevitable consequences would be alarming,” the President said.
According to Marcos, the proposed center would also promote maritime safety, respect for territorial integrity, and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.
The President expressed optimism over the proposal, saying discussions among ASEAN member-states progressed quickly and gained broad regional support.
“Since we proposed the idea, we are offering the Philippines to be the home of that Center,” Marcos said.
ASEAN leaders have yet to finalize the framework, operational structure, and details surrounding the proposed maritime center.
Aside from the maritime initiative, ASEAN leaders also adopted several key agreements during the summit, including the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation, the ASEAN Declaration on the Empowerment of Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, and the ASEAN Strategic Protocol for Emergency and Comprehensive Transformation (ASPECT) Framework aimed at improving regional disaster response coordination.
The regional bloc also pushed for the faster ratification of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security and the upgraded ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement to strengthen energy security, modernize regional trade, and reduce non-tariff barriers.
Leaders likewise advanced discussions on the proposed ASEAN Power Grid, which seeks to connect the electricity systems of all 11 member-nations to support cross-border power sharing, renewable energy integration, and more affordable electricity across the region.
Marcos also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in improving energy forecasting, food security monitoring, and social protection systems throughout Southeast Asia.
The summit also saw the adoption of the Cebu Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Charter — the first amendment to the charter since it was signed in 2007 — which supports the full integration of Timor-Leste into ASEAN and reflects the bloc’s evolving regional role.