MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Brian Poe of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List urged international stakeholders to support the Philippines in protecting the West Philippine Sea, saying the maritime dispute affects regional marine biodiversity, global commerce and the principle of free and open trade.
Speaking last Monday at the G1 Global Conference in Tokyo, with the theme “KYOSEI: Symbiotic Societies,” Poe called on representatives from around the world to recognize the West Philippine Sea as a shared concern.
“This is not just the Philippine problem. This is all of our problems because trillions of dollars’ worth of commercial industry flows through the West Philippine Sea,” Poe said.
He underscored the importance of protecting the region’s marine ecosystem, pointing to its biodiversity and the consequences of failing to safeguard it.
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Poe also stressed that protecting the West Philippine Sea’s marine biodiversity is a shared responsibility, especially among Indo-Pacific countries, noting that the area’s rich marine resources are vital to the region and could be threatened without collective protection.
“So protecting that for free and open trade is important to all of us, which is why I said yes to being on this panel and why I’m here with you today. So I hope you take that into consideration,” Poe added.
Poe said the maritime situation has direct consequences for Filipino fisherfolk, whose livelihoods depend on access to traditional fishing grounds.
He cited incidents involving water cannons, overfishing, intimidation by larger vessels, and restrictions that make some fishers feel unsafe going to sea without the presence of the Philippine Coast Guard.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard’s capacity to protect the country’s maritime interests and fishing communities. Poe cited Japan’s support for the Coast Guard’s fleet and radar systems.
During the discussion, Jack McCain, founder and CEO of McCain Advisory, a Tokyo-based strategic advisory firm, emphasized the importance of international coordination in responding to maritime security challenges. He called for clear responsibilities and agreed procedures among regional coast guards.
“So making sure that both the Korean Coast Guard and the Japanese Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard all have a set of responses and a set of responsibilities that is clear, delineated, non-provocative, but also everybody knows exactly what to do when they need to do something,” McCain said.
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Japanese Congressman Keishi Abe highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation among countries in the Indo-Pacific and their international partners.
He also called for stronger ties between the Philippines and Australia.
“And also, we have to elevate the level of cooperation with the Philippines and Australia to the alliance level. This is the issue that we face in the 21st century,” Abe said.
Poe’s message at the conference underscored the importance of international cooperation in protecting maritime resources, safeguarding fishing livelihoods and maintaining open trade routes in the Indo-Pacific. /atm
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