Philippines and Malaysia sidestep South China Sea claims, seek closer naval ties
The heads of the Philippine and Malaysian navies have pledged to deepen maritime cooperation, reflecting growing trust between both sides and mutual concerns over regional security despite their overlapping claims in the
South China Sea
Admiral Tansri Zulhelmy Bin Ithnain, chief of Malaysia's Royal Navy, met with vice-admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta, flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy, during a courtesy call in Manila on Wednesday. He also held talks with the Philippine military chief, General Romeo Brawner Jnr.
The visit 'reaffirmed the strong and enduring ties' between the two countries' naval forces, according to a Philippine Navy's statement, which said both sides had exchanged views on joint maritime operations, regional security and naval modernisation.
The navies committed to enhance maritime cooperation and discussed future training and capability development efforts. They also highlighted the coming 19th
Asean meeting of navy chiefs – to be hosted by Malaysia in August – as a key platform to advance collaboration.
'This engagement underscores the Philippine Navy's continued commitment to building strong defence partnerships, advancing regional cooperation, and promoting maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region,' the statement said.
The renewed push for naval collaboration comes as both countries face overlapping maritime claims in parts of the South China Sea, even as China's growing assertiveness in the disputed waterways has fuelled regional unease.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Are migrant workers the real glue cementing Asean-GCC ties?
The second Asean -Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit, held in Malaysia from May 26 to 27, marked a significant step towards deepening ties between Southeast Asia and the Gulf. Advertisement While interregional cooperation is often framed in terms of energy, trade and investment, the bedrock of this relationship is increasingly shaped by people-to-people connectivity, anchored in labour migration, religious devotion and growing financial linkages. As fast-growing regions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the GCC are forming bonds as much through daily human interaction as through strategic interests. In 2022, the combined workforce of the six GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – was estimated at 32 million. Of these, Gulf nationals accounted for just 5.8 million, or 18 per cent, while more than 26 million were foreign workers. Although comprehensive and up-to-date data on the total number of Asean citizens working in the GCC is limited, available figures highlight the Gulf's significance as a destination for Asean labour migrants and a key source of remittances. 01:47 Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails first-ever three-way talks with SE Asia, Gulf nations Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails first-ever three-way talks with SE Asia, Gulf nations Saudi Arabia , the largest country in the GCC, employed about 726,000 Filipinos, 175,000 Indonesians and 164,000 Myanmar nationals, according to its 2022 census. The UAE , the second largest country in the region, hosted about 780,000 Filipinos last year. Kuwait, though smaller in size, is still a popular destination for migrant workers, with more than 223,000 Filipinos living there as of 2024. Most of these migrant workers are employed in sectors such as domestic work, healthcare and construction. Recognising the structural importance of these labour flows, Asean and GCC member states have increasingly sought to institutionalise protection mechanisms through bilateral agreements. For example, the 2017 labour agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines set standards for recruitment and employment practices to ensure the rights and welfare of Filipino workers. Advertisement Indonesia , which imposed a moratorium in 2015 on sending workers to Saudi Arabia amid frequent cases of abuse, is now preparing to lift the ban by the end of this month. This development follows a renewed agreement to strengthen worker protection, including a minimum wage, health and life insurance, and digital integration of recruitment data to monitor irregular practices and improve oversight. These moves point to a clear trend: labour governance is becoming central to Asean-GCC cooperation. Both sides are shifting from ad hoc arrangements to a more structured approach focused on rights, protections and shared responsibility – a sign of a more mature and balanced partnership.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Summit snubs: what key Nato absences reveal about Indo-Pacific worries
For the first time in four years, the leaders of South Korea and Japan were nowhere to be seen at the annual Nato summit. Australia's prime minister was also absent from The Hague but New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon took part in the meeting. The four countries are not Nato members, but the security bloc has identified Japan , South Korea, Australia and New Zealand – also known as the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) – as key partners in the alliance's engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. Leaders of all four countries had attended annual Nato summits since 2022, at the invitation of the alliance, but this year, Japan, South Korea and Australia sent lower-level representatives to the event. The decision reflects higher priorities in a region concerned that Middle East conflicts could be distracting the United States from the Indo-Pacific, at least in the short term, experts say. Two leaders – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung – rejected Nato's invitation, citing as reasons 'domestic priorities and growing uncertainty in the Middle East'. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who initially accepted the invitation, cancelled his trip to The Hague a day before his departure, reportedly because there was little chance of a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Philippines and Malaysia sidestep South China Sea claims, seek closer naval ties
The heads of the Philippine and Malaysian navies have pledged to deepen maritime cooperation, reflecting growing trust between both sides and mutual concerns over regional security despite their overlapping claims in the South China Sea Admiral Tansri Zulhelmy Bin Ithnain, chief of Malaysia's Royal Navy, met with vice-admiral Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpeleta, flag officer in command of the Philippine Navy, during a courtesy call in Manila on Wednesday. He also held talks with the Philippine military chief, General Romeo Brawner Jnr. The visit 'reaffirmed the strong and enduring ties' between the two countries' naval forces, according to a Philippine Navy's statement, which said both sides had exchanged views on joint maritime operations, regional security and naval modernisation. The navies committed to enhance maritime cooperation and discussed future training and capability development efforts. They also highlighted the coming 19th Asean meeting of navy chiefs – to be hosted by Malaysia in August – as a key platform to advance collaboration. 'This engagement underscores the Philippine Navy's continued commitment to building strong defence partnerships, advancing regional cooperation, and promoting maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region,' the statement said. The renewed push for naval collaboration comes as both countries face overlapping maritime claims in parts of the South China Sea, even as China's growing assertiveness in the disputed waterways has fuelled regional unease.
