By Robina Asido

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the discussion between Philippines and Japan to delimit its maritime boundary will conclude within the year.

In a presidential luncheon with the members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Marcos stressed that he does "not see any great obstacle" in the ongoing negotiation on the delimitation of the maritime boundary of the two countries.

"It is our discussions with the government of Japan and it is something that I did bring up with the Prime Minister (Sanae) Takaichi when I met with her, and I do not see any particular obstacle,"

"We are hoping to get it done by this year. we hope it will be finished by the end of the year," he added.

In a joint statement issued last May 28, the Philippines and Japan announced that Marcos and Takaichi "decided to commence formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries.

It noted that the negotiations are "in accordance with international law, in particular the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and guided by the relevant international jurisprudence, in order to enhance legal certainty in the region."

Following the announcement of the two countries the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Taiwan seeks confirmation that the future negotiation process and outcomes of relevant agreements between Japan and the Philippines will not affect the sovereign rights afforded to Taiwan in accordance with international law and the law of the sea.

"Taiwan also seeks assurances that such negotiations will not affect the implementation of existing mechanisms, including the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement and the Agreement Concerning the Facilitation of Cooperation on Law Enforcement in Fisheries Matters concluded by Taiwan and the Philippines," the MOFA stated.

"MOFA will continue to closely monitor relevant developments and maintain communication with Japan and the Philippines to ensure that Taiwan’s maritime rights and interests and those of its fishers are fully protected," it added. PHS