MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and supporting a rules-based international order to address the complex and evolving maritime challenges in the wider Indo-Pacific region.

This came during the 3rd Philippines-US Maritime Dialogue in Manila last Oct. 24, 2024. The dialogue reviewed existing maritime engagements and explored new collaborative approaches in the marine domain.

The UNCLOS was adopted in 1982. It establishes a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas and the use of their resources.

It embodies traditional rules for using the oceans in one instrument while introducing new legal concepts and regimes and addressing new concerns. The Convention also provides the framework for further development of specific areas of the law of the sea.

Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez of the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO) and Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin of the US State Department's Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) co-chaired the meeting.

In a statement posted on its official X platform account, the DFA said that comprehensive and substantive discussions revolved around maritime law enforcement, especially information sharing, capacity building, joint operations, and the modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard.

The meeting touched on joint efforts to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region and continued collaboration on marine environmental conservation and scientific affairs.

The two sides also exchanged information on improving maritime policy coordination, including in legislation and international ocean governance.

They also exchanged views on recent developments in the South China Sea and how to effectively address the various challenges while promoting peace and stability in the region.