The Philippines is anticipating the creation of a new regional coast guard protocol as tensions in the South China Sea continue to escalate.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said Thursday the ongoing conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) coast guard in Davao City will pave the way for the crafting of such rules of conduct between coast guards of member states.

The Asean coast guard forum started Wednesday, June 5, and will end Saturday, June 8.  All 10 member countries – Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand – participated in the three-day forum.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the conference is crucial in fostering “Asean centrality” in view of the South China Sea situation, where some member countries, including the Philippines, lay claim to some of the islets within the vast sea.

“This is very significant for the Philippines especially at this point of geopolitical challenges to share the country’s position,” he added.

The CCG also allegedly obstructed a medical evacuation of an ailing soldier from the BRP Sierra Madre, while the Chinese side also accused Filipino troops of pointing guns at their personnel, which  the Philippine military firmly denied.