Rome: The Philippines has welcomed the Group of Seven's (G7) 'unwavering commitment' to a rules-based order in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region. In the final G7 Foreign Ministers' statement issued on Nov. 26, the seven states - Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, the United States, and Japan - expressed serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas. They highlighted that there is 'no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea' and opposed Beijing's 'militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea.' According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, who participated in the G7 ministerial meeting in Italy on the same day, emphasized that the state of the Indo-Pacific concerns the entire world. Manalo stated, "The state of the Indo-Pacific concerns us all. That's why at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, I conveyed the Philippines's views on Indo-Pacific/South Chi na Sea issues and the situation our people face in the West Philippine Sea." He expressed gratitude for the G7's support for the Philippines' principled position, stressing the importance of maintaining a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This marked the first time the Philippines participated in a G7 meeting, with Secretary Manalo speaking at an expanded session on the Indo-Pacific alongside South Korea, India, and Indonesia. During this forum, he delivered an intervention titled 'Building a Rules-based Maritime Order in the Indo-Pacific,' seeking the G7's sustained commitment and support for ASEAN centrality in the region. Manalo reiterated Manila's commitment to promoting international law and diplomacy, particularly in managing differences in the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, Maria Elena Algabre, highlighted the Philippines' encouragement for the G7's unwavering commitment to maint aining a rules-based maritime order. She noted that more than 30 percent of global maritime trade passes through the South China Sea, making this a concern not only for the Philippines but also for the G7 nations. Algabre further detailed that Manila's participation in the G7 aligns with the government's initiative on transparency and increasing public awareness of the situation in the West Philippine Sea. This initiative aims to counter false narratives and establish a stronger foundation for diplomacy. In addition to attending the G7 meeting, Secretary Manalo held bilateral meetings with several counterparts, including Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, along with other diplomats on the margins of the event.