Philippine Coast Guard Personnel onboard BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) celebrate the 126th Philippine Independence Day in the West Philippine Sea. This is the first time the Philippine flag was raised at Sabina Shoal. Photo from Philippine Coast Guard.

By Manuel Mogato | Date 06-13-2024

Davao — Senior Coast Guard officials from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asian countries have proposed region-wide drills to enhance maritime cooperation and avoid potential accidents at sea, as detailed in a document obtained by Asia-Pacific Insights.

The draft documents suggested a set of protocols for engagement at sea among Coast Guard and maritime law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia, including the land-locked state of Laos.

The protocols aim to prevent possible collisions and facilitate standard communications “to limit uncertainty of action” when Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies vessels encounter each other in an unplanned condition. 

Based on the document, ASEAN Coast Guards agreed on a set of protocols to identify and communicate with each other at sea, cooperate on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), search-and-rescue (SAR), and conduct exercises and joint coordinated patrols.

Individual Coast Guards from Southeast Asian countries patrol respective maritime zones. Still, some states have overlapping exclusive economic zones, like the Philippines and Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, and Singapore with Indonesia and Malaysia.

“All Participants will seek to undertake joint exercises,” the draft document said. The purpose of such joint exercises is not only to improve strategic cooperation and strengthen responsiveness to incidents at sea between all Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies but also to enhance mutual understanding, streamline operations, and ensure the safety and security of our shared maritime domain.

A Philippine Coast Guard official told Asia-Pacific Insights there had been no official discussion on region-wide drills.

“This is still in the initial stages of negotiations,” the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said.

“It will take time because of the timing and coordination. But it will happen. Perhaps we will start with our close neighbors Indonesia and Malaysia.”

ASEAN Coast Guard also proposed that “all Participants will seek to undertake coordinated patrol to foster interagency cooperation and synergy, leveraging the unique capabilities and resources of each participating Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies.”

For the third time, the senior Coast Guard officials held a two-day regional maritime law enforcement meeting in Davao.

The first two were held in Indonesia, and Thailand will host next year’s meeting.

Senior Coast Guard officials agreed not to invite observer states outside Southeast Asia. 

The United States, Australia, and Japan Coast Guards want to engage with the ASEAN Coast Guard to improve capacity and capability. (Also read: US, Japan strengthen alliance with Philippines)

The Philippines has signed a deal with Japan to deliver five 97-meter patrol boats until 2027 under a soft loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (Also read: Philippines, Japan may sign treaty in July )

Tokyo built Manila’s two existing 97-meter multi-role response vessels – the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino.