Cebu city: The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have expressed their willingness to adopt a document aimed at facilitating coast guard-to-coast guard and maritime cooperation within Southeast Asia. This initiative was put forward by the Philippines, proposing the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Cooperation at the forthcoming 48th ASEAN Leaders' Summit scheduled for May.

According to Philippines News Agency, the ASEAN Chair issued a press statement following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Cebu City on January 29. The statement indicated that the foreign ministers in attendance "welcomed" the proposal from the Philippines. "We welcomed the Philippines' proposal to adopt an ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Cooperation at the 48th ASEAN Summit, which will identify specific maritime cooperation initiatives," the statement read.

In a text message to the Philippine News Agency, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for ASEAN, Dax Imperial, expressed Manila's specific hopes to gain consensus on a framework for coast guard cooperation and the establishment of an ASEAN center focused on maritime issues. However, the spokesperson noted that the details of the initiatives included in the document would still need negotiation among ASEAN member states.

The Philippines, as the ASEAN chair for 2026, is actively directing efforts to fast-track the development of a Code of Conduct concerning the South China Sea, alongside Beijing. The proposal for an ASEAN Declaration on Maritime Cooperation emerges amid concerns from the Philippines and other ASEAN member states regarding ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.