Allies back community-driven security in West Philippine Sea

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December 7, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Four of the country’s allies and partner nations reaffirmed yesterday their commitment to collective security, rule of law and stronger community-based monitoring in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking at the Stratbase Institute’s “Eyes on the Sea: Community-Based Maritime Monitoring and Reporting in the West Philippine Sea” forum, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and the United States confirmed their continued participation in safeguarding WPS.

Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown highlighted the depth of strategic cooperation between Australia and the Philippines, describing the friendship of the two countries as “enduring.”

Announcing plans, he revealed that in early 2026, “the embassy will officially launch the next phase of Australia’s civil maritime investment in the Philippines, with a double funding allocation of $18 million. This investment will retain strong focus on equipment, capacity building systems and exchange and scholarship opportunities.”

New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh for her part underscored regional cooperation, stating that “no country can address maritime challenges on its own, and New Zealand is working with regional partners to strengthen maritime safety, environmental protection and long-term governance.”

She also pointed to new technologies and stressed that “modern maritime domain awareness tools, including IORIS and Starboard, are helping New Zealand and its partners detect threats, coordinate operations and strengthen regional security through shared information systems.”

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador Lai Thai Binh highlighted the importance of local engagement and noted that “community-based monitoring is central to Vietnam’s maritime awareness efforts, empowering local fishers and coastal residents to report illegal activities and contribute to national databases that guide policy.”

Supporting this, Regina Burns MacKenzie, director of the US embassy’s Regional Foreign Assistance Section, emphasized the importance of maritime resilience in shaping economic stability, food systems and the rules-based order that reinforces peace.

“By advancing the capacity of coastal communities to report illegal activity, the Philippines expands its maritime visibility and improves its ability to deter threats,” she said.

Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit underscored the public mandate for action, citing that 72% of Filipinos want the government to protect the country’s territory and marine resources, as well as the rights of people and fishing communities.

“We always say we put a human face for our policy. Our interest, I think, must be to defend what’s ours, to protect our seas, to protect our archipelagic sea lanes, our archipelagic nation,” Manhit said.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año met with Japan National Security Advisor Keiichi Ichikawa in Manila yesterday to discuss shared security priorities, including the issue of Chinese aggression in WPS.

Año underscored the Philippines’ support for Japan as it faces its own security challenges in the East China Sea, emphasizing that both nations confront parallel pressures that require closer coordination and mutual strategic assurance.