By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to adopt measures that could stop China’s aggressive actions and harassment in the South China Sea (SCS).
In his intervention during the 27th ASEAN-China Summit in Laos, Marcos said it is “regrettable” that the overall situation in the SCS “remains tense and unchanged.”
Marcos said Beijing’s aggression and intimidation demonstrate the “continued disregard of international law and standards,” particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
“We continue to be subjected to harassment and intimidation,” Marcos said.
“Such behavior is not unnoticed by our respective publics and the international community as well. That they will require a concerted and urgent effort to adopt measures to prevent their recurrence,” he added.
Marcos cited the August 2024 incident in the SCS where Philippine vessels endured aggression and harassment from the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the Escoda Shoal during a routine maritime patrol.
He said the CCG personnel blasted horns, used water cannon and rammed Philippine maritime vessels on three separate occasions in August.
He also lamented that civilian fisheries vessels and aircraft were targeted by lasers and subjected to intimidation by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) missile ships of China.
Despite China’s aggressive acts, Marcos said the Philippines remains committed to deepening and extending ASEAN-China relations “in a comprehensive manner, thereby contributing further to the region’s long-term peace, development and cooperation.”
Code of Conduct (COC)
Marcos renewed his call for the ASEAN member-states to fast-track the negotiations for the issuance of a binding COC in the SCS to advance meaningful progress amid China’s aggression in the busy waterway, including Philippine waters.
“Parties must be earnestly open to seriously managing the differences and to reduce tensions,” he said. “In our view, there should be more urgency in the pace of the negotiations of the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC).”
The President emphasized that “core elements of the COC, such as the milestone issues of geographic scope, the relationship between the COC and DOC (Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea), and its legal nature to this day remain outstanding.”
He added that “the definition of a concept as basic as ‘self-restraint’ does not yet enjoy consensus.”
“It is time that we tackle these milestone issues directly so we can make substantive progress moving forward,” Marcos said.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday said Congress’ lower chamber stands solidly behind the Chief Executive in his efforts to secure common ground among stakeholders for greater cooperation and security in the South China Sea.
Romualdez expressed strong support for Marcos’ call to expedite the negotiations on the ASEAN-China COC to ensure regional peace and stability.
“The swift finalization of the Code of Conduct is essential in the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the disputes in the South China Sea, managing tensions, and preventing future conflicts,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez highlighted the broader implications of the President’s stance in the ASEAN Summit, noting that defending the country’s territorial integrity and maritime rights is essential to protecting the livelihoods of Filipino fishermen and the nation’s food supply.
“This summit isn’t just about foreign policy. The President is working hard to safeguard our natural resources, which directly affects our fishermen and the communities that depend on them for their livelihood,” Romualdez said.
Marcos, while asserting the country’s sovereignty, has maintained that the Philippines will continue to explore all diplomatic avenues in the pursuit of peace and stability in the region.
“Looking ahead, the Philippines commits to deepening and expanding ASEAN-China relations in a comprehensive manner, thereby contributing further to the region’s long-term peace, development, and cooperation,” Marcos said in his intervention. (with a report from Filane Cervantes/PNA)
