ASEAN leaders have adopted a wide-ranging declaration on maritime cooperation during the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings held in Cebu, signaling a stronger regional commitment to maritime security, international law, environmental protection, and economic resilience amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region's waters.
Declaration Highlights
The declaration, adopted on Thursday, May 8, 2026, reiterates the group's joint commitment to peace, stability, and maritime cooperation, with special emphasis on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal foundation governing maritime activities.
The document is one of the key outcomes of the summit chaired by the Philippines under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” which underscores Manila's desire for a rules-based maritime order and deeper regional coordination on shared maritime concerns.
Key Areas of Cooperation
- Maritime security and safety
- Environmental protection and sustainability
- Economic resilience and cooperation
- Adherence to international law, particularly UNCLOS
The adoption comes at a time of heightened geopolitical rivalry in the South China Sea and other regional waters, where competing claims and military activities have raised concerns among ASEAN member states. The declaration aims to foster dialogue and collaborative approaches to address these challenges.
Philippine officials hailed the declaration as a significant step forward in regional maritime governance. “This declaration reaffirms our collective resolve to uphold international law and promote peaceful resolution of disputes,” a senior Philippine diplomat stated.
The summit also addressed other regional issues, including economic integration, digital transformation, and post-pandemic recovery, but the maritime declaration stood out as a central achievement, reflecting the urgency of maritime issues in the region.
