ASEAN Navies seek strong cooperation amid “non-traditional security challenges”

November 28, 2019

The Philippine Navy and its counterparts in Southeast Asia have underscored the need to cooperate amid the "non-traditional security challenges" in the region.

This as Rear Adm. Loumer Bernabe, the commander of the Naval Education Training and Doctrine Command (NETDC), represented Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad in the 13th ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting in Cambodia that ended on Thursday.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, Philippine Navy public affairs office acting director, said the meeting with the theme, “Enhancing Cooperation for Sustainable Security at Sea” was hosted by the Royal Cambodian Navy from November 25-28.

“This year’s theme focuses on the enhancement of the cooperation between naval neighbors for the sustainment of maritime security,” she said.

“As non-traditional security challenges in the region occurs frequently the need for all efforts to be conducted in order to establish good order at sea emerged,” the official said.

ANCM is an annual engagement of Chiefs of Navies as a dialogue or avenue to discuss maritime security concerns within the ASEAN region.

“Since its inception, the ASEAN Navy Chiefs Meeting has progressed into a promising platform to address common maritime security concerns and enhance practical cooperation among ASEAN Navies,” Roxas said.

“The ANCM was built upon a robust foundation of goodwill, mutual trust, and sincere commitment to a stable, rules-based order in the ASEAN region,” she added.

Quoting Bernabe, she said the official expressed the Philippine appreciation for the strong naval partnership with the ASEAN counterparts.

“The PN’s attendance in this event gives the Command an ideal platform where it can further expand on regional maritime cooperation and engage to its naval neighbor toward forging partnerships vital for the realization of PN’s modernization program,” she added. Robina Asido/DMS