THE Philippines formally joined the Artemis Accords during the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur, reinforcing its commitment to peaceful, transparent, and sustainable exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Led by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the signing aligns the country with a growing coalition of nations working to strengthen space governance and safety.
The Artemis Accords outline principles for responsible behavior in outer space, including transparency in mission planning, registration of space objects, and deconfliction to avoid accidents and debris generation.
These provisions are especially relevant to the Philippines, which has repeatedly faced risks from falling rocket debris.
Debris incidents in PHL waters
In recent months, Chinese rocket launches have resulted in debris falling into Philippine territory, raising alarms over safety and accountability:
On October 19, 2025, the Philippine Navy recovered suspected debris from China’s Long March 8A rocket off Bataraza, Palawan, just two days after its launch from Hainan.
Earlier, on August 4, 2025, debris from China’s Long March 12 rocket fell into Philippine archipelagic waters, prompting official concern from the Department of Foreign Affairs and calls for responsible space conduct.
PhilSA issued multiple debris warnings for areas near El Nido, Tubbataha Reef, and Basilan, citing projected drop zones from Chinese launches.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for international norms that prioritize safety, transparency, and mutual respect-principles at the heart of the Artemis Accords.
‘By signing the Accords, the Philippines reaffirms its commitment to be an active stakeholder in space governance and in the shaping and maintenance of international law,’ said PhilSA Officer-in-Charge Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez.
‘This reflects our readiness to stand alongside like-minded nations in advancing transparency, sustainability, and shared benefit beyond our borders and above our atmosphere,’ she added.
Expert insight from Batongbacal
Atty. Jay Batongbacal, a maritime law expert from the UP College of Law-Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, who has recently taken interest in space governance, welcomed the signing as a strategic move.
‘It’s good in the sense that it is an indication that we are ramping up our space activities. There is potential for technology transfer, and participation in international space activities,’ he said.
‘The Accords essentially reiterate commitment to the outer space treaties, which we are in the process of ratifying anyway.’
He noted, however, that the Artemis Accords will not directly resolve the Philippines’ concerns over China’s rocket launches and debris incidents.
‘That’s a different problem. But the Accords’ section on deconflicting space activities adds weight to the existing rules on the responsibility [and liability] of states for their space objects and space activities, including if they fall and cause damage,’ he told the BusinessMirror.
Batongbacal added that while the Accords promote cooperation and peaceful uses of space, ‘it has also been criticized as catering too much to commercial interests.’
Contrast in space governance
While 56 countries have signed the Artemis Accords as of October 2025, China is not among them.
Instead, it pursues independent space initiatives-such as the Tiangong space station and Chang’e lunar missions-outside the Artemis framework.
This divergence highlights the geopolitical and strategic tensions in space governance, especially as debris incidents test the limits of current international law.
The Philippines’ participation in the Accords builds on a decade of steady progress in space development. The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) was established in 2019 through the Philippine Space Act (RA 11363), with a mandate to advance national space policy, satellite development, and international cooperation.
Key milestones include:
The launch of Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, Earth observation microsatellites developed with Japanese partners.
The deployment of Maya-series CubeSats, used for communications and scientific experiments.
The construction of PhilSA’s headquarters in New Clark City, envisioned as a hub for space research and innovation.
PhilSA’s programs focus on disaster resilience, food security, maritime domain awareness, and STEM education, using space technology to address national development goals.
Joining the Artemis Accords reflects the Philippines’ intent to be a responsible and proactive player in global space governance-ensuring that the benefits of space exploration and Yamang Kalawakan are shared by all.
This milestone will be featured at the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31) in Cebu from November 17 to 22, where PhilSA will highlight its role in advancing regional space safety and cooperation.