While pushing for economic cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Beijing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also called on China to exercise ‘restraint’ in settling maritime disputes.
The chief executive carefully treaded between the lines of backing ASEAN’s position of more partnerships with China and defending the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, which is being encroached on by Chinese ships.
Marcos backed the signing of the ASEAN-China Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030), which he said will help ‘modernize trade practices and effectively respond to emerging economic challenges.’
He also expressed optimism that other ASEAN-China joint initiatives like the 22rd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ASEAN and China on Cooperation to Combat Transnational Crime, and the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges (ACYPPE) will bear good results for all.
‘I look forward to further strengthening mutually beneficial sociocultural cooperation and promoting closer people-to-people ties in various areas, including culture, education, tourism, sports, and technical and vocational education and training,’ Marcos said at the 28th ASEAN-China Summit in Malaysia, which concluded on Tuesday.
The President, however, remained firm and consistent with his protest against the unilateral declaration of China to turn the Bajo de Masinloc as a ‘nature reserve,’ as well as the harassment by Chinese ships of Philippine sea vessels and air craft which pass through the West Philippine Sea.
Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal is a coral atoll within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, which is stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The 2016 arbitral ruling, however, stated that Bajo de Masinloc is a traditional fishing area, which can be used by other fisherfolk from other countries.
‘It is regrettable that incidents in the South China Sea persist. Philippine vessels and aircraft continue to face dangerous actions and harassment,’ Marcos said.
‘This is made even more complicated by unilateral declarations of marine protection zones, such as the ‘nature reserve’ in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is an integral and longstanding part of Philippine territory,’ he added.
He urged China not to use force, which can spark unrest in the South China Sea, an important waterway.
‘Otherwise, the failure to restrain provocative and dangerous actions further threatens the peace and stability that we have collectively built and cultivated over the years,’ Marcos said.
He reiterated that the completion of the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) will help prevent the escalation of maritime disputes.
This was proven, he said, by the bilateral Provisional Understanding with China regarding rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal.
The agreement, he said, helped in the peaceful completion of 10 RORE missions.
‘Of course, if we truly want a pathway for the South China Sea to remain a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity for all, we should not lose sight of the importance of self-restraint on everyone’s part,’ Marcos said.