House Speaker Martin Romualdez supported the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to unite to maintain peace and order and release tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During the retreat session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related summits in Jakarta, Indonesia, Marcos said that the ASEAN can be used as a ‘diplomatic bridge’ to promote reconciliation, trust, and peaceful resolution of issues in disputed areas.

The ASEAN Summit was held in Indonesia a few days after China published its new map, in which it further expanded its territory claims in the WPS.

As such, the said claim was opposed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India.