Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations as well as the peaceful settlement of territorial disputes.
At the opening of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Teodoro appealed to “Plus” or dialogue partners to assist in protecting migrant workers and seafarers.
The “Plus” countries are composed of the US, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, China, and Russia.
Teodoro said functional cooperation among ASEAN and dialogue partners must be anchored in mutual respect and adherence to international law, including the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“ASEAN member states and dialogue partners share the same principles, such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the renunciation of the threat for use of force,” Teodoro said.
“These principles have bound us over the decades, and they must continue to guide us in the years ahead,” Teodoro also said.
Teodoro said the ADMM platform should be used to sustain the steady and significant progress made under the ADMM-Plus framework.
“Third, and last, in our interdependent world, disruptions, wherever they occur, have direct implications on the safety and well-being of our people and peoples, perhaps extra-regionally,” Teodoro said.
“We therefore welcome cooperation on food and energy security amid supply chain challenges and conflicts overseas,” Teodoro also said.
He urged the dialogue partners for their cooperation in safeguarding migrant workers and seafarers from ASEAN member states and other small countries caught in crossfires.
Teodoro said migrant workers and seafarers should be protected for their vital contributions to the economy, reiterating statements made during past dialogues.
“The international order must have a special obligation to protect migrant workers and seafarers in recognition of their vital contributions to the global economy and the way of life of the countries wherein they serve,” Teodoro said.