Philippines, Indonesia agree to set maritime boundaries in overlapping area

June 23, 2019

The Philippines and Indonesia on Saturday agreed to set maritime boundaries in their overlapping areas following a bilateral meeting of the two countries on the sidelines of the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Bangkok.

In a joint statement, President Rodrigo Duterte and his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, ''welcomed the completion of the two countries’ respective domestic requirements for the entry into force of the agreement''  concerning the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone boundary.

''This landmark accord concluded between the two biggest archipelagic states stands as a valuable example of the peaceful and rules-based settlement of maritime borders in accordance with 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),'' a joint statement by the two countries said.

''The Agreement provides legal certainty on the EEZ boundary between the two countries, promotes deeper cooperation in their respective maritime sectors and thus contributes to the prosperity and economic development of both countries and the larger region,'' it said.

Duterte and Widodo look forward to the entry into force of the Agreement within this year, upon the formal exchange of the instruments of ratification by their respective foreign ministers.

''This significant and positive development attests to the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the Philippines and Indonesia, and adds further meaning to the ongoing celebration of the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations,'' it said. DMS