President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. underscored the urgency of tackling the South China Sea dispute to alleviate tensions and manage conflicts after recent incidents between the Philippines and China.
“Parties have to be conscientious and earnest concerning this most consequential issue. We must all remain open so as to seriously manage differences and reduce tensions,” Marcos said during his intervention at the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS) in Vientiane, Laos on Friday.
The President acknowledged that while there have been positive developments in the Philippines, the overall situation in the South China Sea remains unchanged, as tensions continue to persist.
Marcos cited the August incident where Chinese vessels harassed the Philippine Coast Guard during a routine patrol in Escoda Shoal, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The President also pointed to the recent incident where People's Liberation Army Navy ships intimidated Philippine fishing vessels and aircraft, citing it as an example of China’s ongoing disregard for international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
From this, he urged a swift advancement of negotiations for a binding ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC) to mitigate the risks of miscalculations and escalation in the South China Sea.
Moreover, Marcos proposed that East Asia Summit (EAS) initiatives incorporate South China Sea-related issues, including enhanced maritime domain awareness, increased marine environmental protection projects, improved safety of navigation and communication at sea, and clearer rules of engagement for vessels operating in the region.
Stressing the importance of multilateralism, Marcos stated that it can only flourish in a rules-based international order rooted in the principles and objectives of the UN Charter and international law.
