France-Philippines collaboration: Solving the maritime ‘trilemma'
On October 12, Philippine vessels conducting a humanitarian mission to assist fisherfolk near Pag-asa Island were subjected to ramming, dangerous maneuvers and water-cannon attacks by Chinese ships. Less than a month earlier, another Philippine vessel in Bajo de Masinloc faced the same aggressive tactics, leaving a Filipino crew member injured.
Prior to this, the State Council of China announced the establishment of a so-called “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve” in those waters. Recently, Chinese vessels reportedly began issuing radio warnings ordering Philippine boats to stay out of what they now call their “environmental reserve.”
Far from acts of conservation, these moves form part of Beijing’s continuing attempts to legitimize its baseless maritime claims and restrict Filipino access to traditional fishing grounds. They are part of a broader pattern of coercion designed to intimidate, disrupt livelihoods, and assert control over waters where the Philippines has sovereign rights.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has warned earlier that such behavior has led to the reduction of local fish catch by restricting access to productive grounds. The damage goes beyond economics.
Research has shown that at least 21,000 acres of coral reefs have been destroyed in the West Philippine Sea, while cyanide and other illegal fishing methods continue to ravage Bajo de Masinloc’s fragile ecosystems.
This is the maritime reality of the Philippines today—a convergence of security, economic, and environmental pressures. In this context, it is no surprise that despite our vast waters and immense blue-economy potential, ocean-based industries contribute less than five percent to GDP, and fisherfolk remain among the poorest sectors in society.
Confronted by these interlinked challenges, what the Philippines needs is a framework that addresses all fronts simultaneously.
As Stratbase Institute President Prof. Dindo Manhit stressed in a recent forum co-organized with the Embassy of France in the Philippines, maritime governance must balance security, economic growth and environmental protection. It cannot be piecemeal or selective. It must be comprehensive, coordinated, and inclusive.
“Maritime governance is not only about defending one’s territory,” Prof. Manhit emphasized. “It is about ensuring that the seas remain a shared space of peace, prosperity, and sustainability.”
This balance—the maritime trilemma—is what will allow the Philippines to translate its maritime rights into real security and prosperity for its people. Achieving this vision, however, requires partners that share the same conviction and are willing to invest in comprehensive, long-term cooperation.
France has proven to be precisely such a partner. In her address, Ambassador Marie Fontanel stressed the different dimensions of the France–Philippines partnership—from environmental protection to the blue economy and maritime security—reflecting an ever-deepening relationship.
She highlighted how the Letter of Intent signed between the Ministers of Armed Forces in December 2023 has fostered closer defense collaboration, capacity-building and regular exchanges on strategic challenges, particularly in the maritime domain. She emphasized that cooperation extends beyond the intergovernmental level, encompassing research, civil society, and economic partnerships.
More crucially, she reiterated France’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award—pillars not only of a rules-based international order but also of sustainable and responsible stewardship of the marine environment.
For Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea of the Philippine Coast Guard, this partnership is not new. French–Philippine maritime cooperation has evolved—from early focuses on safety and economic connectivity, to strengthening the law-enforcement capability of Coast Guard assets, and to today’s united front against illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive maneuvering in Philippine waters.
He recalled that France’s engagement dates back decades, from its development assistance for the country’s nautical highway to the delivery of the BRP Gabriela Silang, the world’s largest aluminum offshore patrol vessel. Today, this cooperation continues through France’s commitment to supply 40 new patrol boats valued at €400 million, with half to be built in the Philippines.
“This is not merely capability,” Tarriela said. “It is a beacon for our shipbuilding industry… a testament to France’s investment in our future—not just arming us, but building us.” He noted that the project is also fostering technology transfer and advancing the Philippines’ self-reliant defense posture, ensuring that cooperation strengthens both capability and local industry.
Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez (Ret.), spokesperson of the National Maritime Council, underscored that “sustainable and inclusive maritime governance must be the foundation of both security and prosperity in our region.” Governance, he said, is now “a matter of strategic necessity.”
“There are several pathways where France and the Philippines can cooperate toward a sustainable and inclusive maritime governance,” Lopez noted, citing joint maritime domain awareness, capacity-building for blue-economy governance, and education and training platforms where civil servants, coastguards, and local leaders are trained on sustainable maritime management, maritime law enforcement and crisis communication in contested waters.
He emphasized, however, that collective efforts for sustainable governance cannot be divorced from the region’s most pressing security challenge—the West Philippine Sea.
The West Philippine Sea, he said, is the ultimate test of governance and cooperation—a theater where law, legitimacy, and leadership converge. “What we build together today with like-minded nations like France,” he noted, “will define the future of maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.”
Ultimately, this is what genuine maritime cooperation embodies—a partnership that integrates defense, economic progress, and sustainable development. The Philippines’ struggle is not only about preventing ramming incidents or countering illegal fishing. It is about transforming the governance of its waters from confrontation into cooperation and vulnerability into capability.
France and the Philippines show that this vision is possible. They have anchored policy in international law, aligned security with sustainability, and pursued development that creates both livelihoods and resilience. The challenge now is for the two countries to sustain this commitment—to ensure that their partnership continues to uphold freedom of navigation, global trade and the integrity of our shared maritime commons.
Linar-Mae Orbista is a program and research manager for defense and security at think tank Stratbase Institute.
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