Philippine Foreign Secretary Lazaro expounds the “Navigating our future, together” theme

Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, the Philippine foreign secretary, who arrived in New York ahead of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to seek support for a non-permanent seat for the Philippines at the United Nations Security Council for the 2027/2028 period, highlighted the motto “Navigating our future, together” as the guiding course for the 11 member-strong Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which the Philippines chairs this year.

At two separate events recently held in New York City – she appeared first at the Asia Society where she was quizzed by Ambassador (ret) Philip S. Goldberg, and the following day at the Baruch College by Noel Lateef, the President/CEO of the Foreign Policy Association – Lazaro spoke on several issues, including navigating through the challenges posed by tariffs, amid fears of the noose tightening around global trade and rising protectionism, as well as maritime security in the South China Sea (SCS) where islands claimed by the Philippines have been seized by China.

Describing ASEAN as an “anchor of peace, stability and prosperity” in the Indo-Pacific for six decades, Lazaro said the ASEAN community was striving to become the world’s 4th largest economic entity with a $4 trillion economy by 2030.

She pointed out that the Indo-Pacific accounted for 60% of the global GDP. “Indeed, what happens in the Indo-Pacific affects the world … and ASEAN lies in the heart of the region,” she said, adding that “togetherness (among the ASEAN states)” was the key principle of the group.

Maritime Security is ASEAN’s Top Priority

Maritime security is high on the list of ASEAN priorities, as its sea trade both with China and partners in the Gulf, Europe, and the Americas continues to grow. However, the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is de facto closed following Iran’s attacks on international vessels carrying oil and other commodities, has alarmed the world, including the ASEAN countries.

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most vital oil export ​route, connecting the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and ​the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

About 20% of the daily global oil consumption passes through the Strait of Hormuz, ​which is about 33 ​kilometers (21 miles) wide ⁠at its narrowest point.

While the Strait of Hormuz prominently figures in the news, with the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war, the Strait of Malacca, also called the “Maritime Silk Road”, faces the danger of being sidelined, even though it plays a pivotal role in global logistics.

Stretching 800 kilometers between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the Strait of Malacca is a narrow but vital waterway and a cornerstone of global seaborne trade. This is where the interplay of new materials, emerging markets, and dynamic geopolitics converge.

The Malacca Strait is the shortest maritime route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, facilitating the movement of an estimated 82,000 vessels annually, with over 40% of global trade passing through this channel, including 80% of China’s crude oil imports and much of the energy supplies to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, the last-named being also crucial because of its proximity, within 70 nautical miles, to the Philippines and the presence of some 200,000 Filipino workers on the island. The Malacca Strait is a critical link between the resource-rich Middle East and Asia’s manufacturing powerhouses. Thus, any interruption, caused by geopolitical tensions, piracy, or natural disasters, would have significant implications for global energy markets and the stability of international supply chains.

The Philippines has also faced tremendous pressure on the high seas as Chinese naval ships have attacked Philippine vessels. In the circumstances, Lazaro was asked whether her country would not like to join the Quad group, which maintains a strategic presence in the South China Sea region, along with current members Australia, India, Japan, and the US. “I am sure we can think about it once we are formally approached to do so,” she told the American Journal of Transportation.

Striking a Balance in the South China Sea

The ASEAN group has been trying to balance ties between the U.S. and China; while the US has a defense treaty with the Philippines, it is also a key geopolitical, economic, and defense partner for several ASEAN countries. China, on the other hand, dominates the economic and trade spectrum, and is today ASEAN’s biggest trading partner, though several ASEAN countries are trying to reduce their trade dependence on China and diversify to other markets.

Lazaro pointed out that the Philippines had been vocal about its maritime claims in the SCS, where China has gradually seized control of the small islands. Indeed, China has also ignored the verdict of the International Court of Justice, which endorsed the Philippines’ claims to the islands.

Lazaro said that the Philippines, as the ASEAN chair, would push for a Code of Conduct (CoC) to be adhered to by China and the ASEAN countries, seeking to establish guidelines for managing disputes in the South China Sea.

The CoC aims to mitigate tensions and prevent conflicts among the claimant states, which include several ASEAN members and China. The ASEAN group is pushing to finalize the CoC by 2026. The initiative will set the stage for enhanced cooperation, ensuring that all parties adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“… what we follow is the rule of law,” Lazaro said. For her, adherence to international law and multilateralism is not just ornamental language but rather a country’s leverage.

“One cannot achieve anything if one antagonizes the other,” she said, describing the approach as both assertive and patient. Outcomes are rarely instant.

Maritime security is the artery of ASEAN’s sea trade, which forms the backbone of the mostly export-driven ASEAN economies. “We need to ensure that there is no disruption or a chaotic situation arising from conflict. It will, invariably, affect global trade,” she said.