MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. rallied for support for a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (SCS) on Monday during the plenary of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In his speech, Marcos reiterated the Philippines’ support and called for the acceleration of the adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to “safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea.”
Negotiations for a code of conduct has been under negotiation between ASEAN and China since 2002, which seeks to ease tensions in the contested territories in the South China Sea.
The negotiations also aim to establish guidelines for maritime conduct and mechanisms for managing crises.
“We underscore the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea,” President Marcos said.
The call comes after China Coast Guard (CCG) ships water cannoned and sideswiped a civilian Philippine vessel from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which sustained damage while conducting marine scientific missions in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) last week.
China responded by saying “the Philippine government dispatched personnel to Tiexian Jiao (Sandy Cay) “under the pretext of conducting scientific research.”
According to China’s Foreign Ministry, such actions of Philippine vessels constitute a serious violation of Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which explicitly states that all Parties shall “exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, including refraining from inhabiting presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features.”
The President also reaffirmed the country’s stance against transnational crime and human trafficking, and called for increased climate financing to meet ASEAN’s climate goals.
“In this increasingly interconnected world, we find ourselves and our gains at risk when our current stability is challenged. Geopolitical tensions, unexpected trade barriers, and the unprecedented impact of climate change have the potential to disrupt our communities, supply chains, and remove our hard-earned progress,” President Marcos said.
In the same speech, he highlighted other key points, such as regional cooperation in addressing health crises and economic challenges; and placed youth empowerment at the core of ASEAN’s future.
“By working together, strengthening our institutions, and building the resilience and capacities of our people, we can better navigate this uncertain future and turn challenges into opportunities for shared growth and stability,” he stated.
