On the morning of March 6, 2026, the Stratbase Institute, in collaboration with the Japan Institute of International Affairs held a symposium entitled “Safeguarding the Maritime Domain for the Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” at the Makati Shangri-La, Makati City. The forum gathered together key government officials and agencies, members of the diplomatic community, military, and other civil society organizations from across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond to share insights and explore avenues for closer and more effective cooperation.  

In his opening remarks, Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit underscored the critical relevance of the Indo‑Pacific and the seas, emphasizing that the Philippines sits at the center of a maritime region where rising coercive actions—particularly in the West Philippine Sea—threaten regional stability, economic security, and the rules‑based international order. He stressed that the Philippines cannot stand alone and that safeguarding the Indo‑Pacific requires collective, principled, and sustained cooperation with partners.  

For his keynote message, Japanese Ambassador H.E. Endo Kazuya highlighted the deepening Philippines‑Japan security cooperation—from the Receiprocal Access Agreement to maritime activities and the Official Security Alliance while, underscoring Japan’s commitment to strengthening Philippine economic resilience through major infrastructure, supply‑chain, and digital connectivity initiatives.  

Moreover, National Security Council Adviser and Director General Eduardo Año stressed that the Philippines faces growing national security challenges—including espionage activities and asymmetric threats—that require heightened vigilance and stronger protective mechanisms across government agencies. He underscored that no country can address these evolving threats alone, emphasizing the need for deeper international cooperation to counter cyberattacks, foreign interference, and coercive actions that increasingly affect regional stability.  

The Institute expresses its gratitude to the speakers and moderators for sharing their expertise. Stratbase reaffirms its commitment to fostering meaningful discussions on the maritime domain, particularly within the broader Indo‑Pacific context, to help strengthen cooperation, advance shared security interests, and support a stable and rules‑based regional environment.