Exposing Bad Behavior at Sea: Transparency and the Philippines' South China Sea Policy

The Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies, in collaboration with the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and We Protect Our Seas (WPS) is proud to present our next collaboration event in Tokyo. This event will feature Dr. Jay Tristan Tarriela of the Philippines Coast Guard who will speak on Maritime Transparency and the Philippines South China Sea Policy. We will also be joined by professor Furuya Kentaro who will give valuable perspective as a discussant and Dr. Takagi Yusuke who will act as event moderator.

How does transparent accounting of events and confrontations at sea support efforts aimed at promoting a rules-based maritime order? How can governments safeguard their institutions and the public from foreign malign influence operations that seek to confuse their people, poison political discourse, and make outright violations of international law seemingly acceptable and coercion, justifiable? Finally, how are the various capacity-building efforts by Japan, Australia, the United States, France, Canada and other like-minded states related to promoting maritime domain awareness and law enforcement at sea contribute to greater stability and security in Southeast Asian waters? This seminar features Dr. Jay Tristan Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard, a leading practitioner in maritime transparency and counter-coercion, and Prof. FURUYA Kentaro, Professor at GRIPS, who brings deep academic expertise on the Law of the Sea and maritime security in the region. Dr. TAKAGI Yusuke will moderate the panel and offer the Japanese perspective on maritime security cooperation and Philippine foreign policy.

YCAPS is glad to partner with GRIPS and WPS to deliver this opportunity.

*The seminar will be conducted in English, and pre-registration is required to participate.

Please Bring a photo ID upon reception.

Please use this link to RSVP for in-person or online attendance via zoom

*Registration is mandatory

Date: Friday, June 27, 2025

Time: 13:30 - 15:00

Language: English

Venue: GRIPS Campus Room 4B (4th Floor)

7-22-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8677

Please note: This venue is located inside the GRIPS Building, 4th floor. The closest stations are Roppongi and Nogizaka.

Please bring a valid ID to confirm your identity upon access to the building.

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/46Ait3bJwoBJRSdL7

＊Note 1: For security reasons, participants who do not provide complete and accurate information regarding their identity, affiliation, and position may not be admitted.

＊Note 2: Participation via Zoom is possible. Check the registration link for details.

Speaker:

CG COMMO Jay Tristan Tarriela has completed his Ph.D. at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) under the GRIPS Global Governance (G-cube) Program in Tokyo as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ASEAN Public Policy Leadership scholar. At present, he is the Commander of the West Philippine Sea Transparency Group and Spokesperson for the South China Sea matters of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). He attended numerous military and coast guard training, locally and abroad. He holds a graduate degree from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Graduate School and a Master of Policy Studies from GRIPS and the Japan Coast Guard Academy, where he was part of the first batch of the Maritime Safety and Security Program launched jointly by both institutions in 2016. Dr. Tarriela was chosen as part of the inaugural cohort of the Pacific Forum US-Philippines’ Next Generation Leaders’ Initiative. Further, he was selected as a fellow of the 2021 East-West Center US-Philippines Alliance Fellowship in Washington, DC, USA. Dr. Tarriela has written opinion-editorial articles published by The Diplomat, The National Interest, Analyzing War, RSIS Briefs, and other leading publications. He has also served as visiting lecturer at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Philippine Public Safety College, Ateneo De Manila University School of Government, and the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Graduate School.

Discussant:

Prof. FURUYA Kentaro graduated from the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Academy in 1992, World Maritime University in 2003, and Greenwich University in 2012. After graduating from the JCG Academy, he assumed important positions in maritime safety and security practice and policy formulation. He assumed the position of associate professor at the JCG Academy in 2013, an adjunct professor at GRIPS in 2015, and an adjunct professor in 2018.

Moderator:

Prof. TAKAGI Yusuke is an Associate Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo, JAPAN. He received the Doctor of the Science of Law from Keio University. Before joining GRIPS, he worked at De La Salle University - Manila and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. He teaches graduate courses on political science focusing on Southeast Asian countries as well as other emerging countries.

Cost: Free of charge

Moderators: Prof. TAKAGI Yusuke

Format: This event will be off-the-record. Questions are encouraged.

Registration: Required via this link

Co-Sponsors: National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) , We Protect our Seas (WPS)