PCG: The China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) held the Second Organizational Meeting and the Inaugural Meeting of Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC) on 20-22 February 2017 in Subic Bay in the Philippines. The meeting was convened to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the China Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard on the establishment of a Joint Coast Guard Committee on maritime cooperation, which was signed on 20th October 2016 witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

At its inaugural meeting, both sides recognized the significance of coast guard diplomacy. The JCGC adopted the Implementing Guidelines of the MOU and the TOR of the Working Groups established to assist in the work of the Committee. Both sides agreed to cooperate in the sectors of preventing and combating drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, SAR, environment protection and emergency response through, among other modalities, information exchange and pragmatic empowerment activities unique for coast guard and enforcement agencies.

Both sides also established a hotline mechanism to facilitate the communications in agreed areas.

To enhance exchange and cooperation between the two maritime law enforcement agencies, both sides agreed to conduct bilateral exchange activities in 2017, including high- level visits, maritime operations and related exercises, vessel visit and capacity building. The CCG also invited PCG officials for a high-level visit to China at an appropriate time in 2017.

The office of the Foreign Affairs Leading Groups of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Department of Affairs also participated in the meeting.

After the meetings, the two sides signed the Record of Discussion.