ASEAN Emphasizes Maritime Cooperation Based on Rule of Law

The 10th ASEAN Media Forum, held on July 30 in Manila, Philippines, featured a discussion session titled "The Role of ASEAN in Promoting Maritime Cooperation Based on the Rule of Law." During this session, participants emphasized ASEAN's strategic role in managing maritime spaces. The forum served as a platform for ASEAN member states to address common challenges and enhance regional cooperation. In particular, the management of vast maritime areas and the establishment of the rule of law within them were recognized as urgent issues by the participating countries. During the discussions, Vietnam put forward specific proposals to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN, Japan, and China. Vietnam proposed 2027 as the "ASEAN-China Year of AI Cooperation," suggesting that the development of AI technology holds potential for new cooperation opportunities in various fields, including the maritime sector. Furthermore, Vietnam presented three focus areas to promote cooperation between ASEAN and Japan, calling for deepened collaboration in economy, security, and sustainable development. Meanwhile, the United States reaffirmed its "100% support" for ASEAN centrality, demonstrating its commitment to bolstering ASEAN's leading role in the region. This indicates that ASEAN's importance in stabilizing regional order is recognized by the international community, especially amidst ongoing US-China tensions. The discussions at this forum clearly demonstrated ASEAN's commitment to building a maritime order based on the rule of law and its aim to achieve an autonomous and resilient regional community through cooperation with diverse regional partners.