MANILA, Philippines — A think tank on Sunday called on the Philippine government to accelerate energy projects under the Japan-led Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) instead of entering into energy arrangements that may “compromise” national interests.
AZEC is a Japan-led regional initiative that promotes cooperation among partner countries on clean energy transition, energy security, and decarbonization.
Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit said the government should pursue such an initiative with Tokyo and other like-minded partners “rather than get into energy arrangements that could expose the country to geopolitical pressure.”
He was apparently alluding to ongoing discussions on possible joint energy exploration activities with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which China continues to claim as part of its territory despite a 2016 arbitral award invalidating its sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The WPS is the term used by the Philippines to refer to the parts of the South China Sea within the country’s jurisdiction.
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“The Philippines must be unequivocal in its direction and choose arrangements that deliver real, sustainable prosperity. It must build its energy future with partners that respect its sovereignty and share its support for a rules-based order. More importantly, it must choose a path where it can strengthen its own capabilities without compromising its national interests,” Stratbase said in a statement.
“Any energy arrangement that comes with implicit or explicit concessions in the West Philippine Sea, or that turns a blind eye to the ongoing coercion there, directly undermines the country’s sovereign and national interests,” it added.
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According to Manhit, AZEC offers the Philippines a “credible and forward-looking framework that advances three essential goals simultaneously: energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization.”
“At the same time, the framework creates opportunities for the Philippines to access reliable technology, attract quality investments, and accelerate the development of resilient domestic energy capacity,” he added.
Manhit stressed that the Philippines’ participation in AZEC comes at a critical time as the world grapples with a global energy crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict.
He also welcomed plans for the Philippines and Japan to co-host the 4th AZEC Leaders’ Meeting in November, calling it a “clear recognition” of the Philippines’ growing strategic role in the Indo-Pacific.
Last week, Japanese political figure Kishida Fumio, special envoy of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and supreme adviser to the Parliamentary Association of AZEC, met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin to discuss deeper AZEC cooperation. /mcm