Meeting his fellow Southeast Asian leaders and China’s top official here yesterday, President Marcos reiterated his rejection of ‘unilateral’ declarations of marine protection zones in areas within Philippine waters, as he underscored that ‘cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion.’
Speaking at the 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Summit attended by Chinese Premiere Li Qiang, Marcos called for self-restraint, mutually beneficial cooperation, meaningful dialogue and constructive engagement in the South China Sea.
‘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,’ the President said in his speech.
‘Otherwise, the failure to restrain provocative and dangerous actions further threatens the peace and stability that we have collectively built and cultivated over many years,’ he stressed.
The President expressed concern over troubling incidents at sea where Filipino fishermen as well as Philippine vessels and aircraft continue to face harassment.
Without mentioning China, he lashed out at its plan to establish a ‘nature reserve’ in Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
‘Such actions cannot hide under the veneer of marine environmental protection because it has no legal basis or effect, clearly disregards international law and infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction,’ the President pointed out.
Nevertheless, Marcos said the Philippines remains committed to diplomacy and dialogue as means to assert its rights and entitlements under international law.
‘We will continue to engage constructively to manage differences,’ he said.
Marcos cited the Philippines’ Provisional Understanding with China through which 10 rotation and resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal have been completed without any untoward incident.
‘Our Provisional Understanding is but one demonstration of how effective diplomacy and candid dialogue can ease tensions and produce positive outcomes that help manage the situation at sea, without prejudicing national positions. We should widen our diplomatic creativity for this purpose,’ he said.
Code of conduct
Marcos said the Philippines continues to work with ASEAN neighbors for the completion of an ‘effective’ and ‘substantive’ Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to manage tensions in disputed waters.
He said Manila is pushing for a COC that is consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and does not diminish the rights and interest of third parties and can effectively govern the behavior of parties at sea.
‘The Philippines stands ready to work with ASEAN and China to translate our commitments into meaningful outcomes through mutually beneficial cooperation. It must be clear, however, that this cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion,’ the Chief Executive said.
‘By grounding our partnership in mutual respect for sovereign equality and adherence to international law as guiding principles, we can ensure that ASEAN-China cooperation continues to deliver tangible and meaningful benefits to our peoples while advancing our shared vision of peace, stability, prosperity and sustainability in the region,’ the President added.
Marcos also urged ASEAN and China to explore cooperative activities within the framework of the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
He also pushed for possible scientific cooperation such as on ocean meteorology, to ensure maritime safety, mitigate risks to marine biodiversity in the high seas and help implement the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
At a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel here following the closing ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit, Marcos said Li did not seem to agree with his position.
‘The Premier just – during his time to speak, just said that this is – as far as China is concerned, is within their local law and international law. Of course, we dispute that, but that’s essentially how that diplomatic process works,’ he said.
‘And I continue to find ways to redefine our relationship with China. I really believe that the way forward is to change. Because when you talk about China and the Philippines, all you talk about are the territorial disputes,’ he said.
‘Well, anybody, I’m not saying the media, everybody thinks that – the territorial disputes,’ he said.
Marcos wants Xi to visit Philippines
Marcos also said he would definitely invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines if a COC is concluded by 2026.
‘Yes. Yes, that would not be bad at all. I would – I will certainly invite him. That’s for sure,’ the Chief Executive said.
‘And so if we get to that point where President Xi will actually consider coming to the Philippines, it would mean that we have made significant progress. And that would be a great thing, that would be just a great thing,’ Marcos said.
Meetings with Australia, New Zealand leaders
In his statement at the 5th ASEAN-Australia Summit yesterday, Marcos commended Australia’s proactive engagement in ASEAN-led mechanisms and its steadfast support for maritime cooperation and conflict prevention as vital pillars of shared stability.
At the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit also yesterday, Marcos lauded New Zealand’s efforts in advancing ASEAN’s maritime priorities, anchored on international law and UNCLOS.
Marcos held separate bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday.
On Monday, he met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, where they committed to strengthen cooperation in economic and security areas.
China installs 2 buoys in Panatag – PCG
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the Chinese have installed two buoys in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.
At a briefing, PCG spokesman for West Philippine Sea issue Commodore Jay Tarriela said six to 10 Chinese Coast Guard vessels have been monitored in the area.
‘Last week, we monitored the Chinese government, they were successful in putting two buoys, one in the center of Bajo de Masinloc and the other one in the northern part,’ he said. Tarriela said the PCG has deployed an Islander aircraft to conduct aerial patrol over the area.
‘The most significant observation made today is that there are four Chinese postcard vessels that we have monitored within the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc and there is also a PLA-Navy warship, but it’s quite distant. It’s far from the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc. If you’re going to ask me if they have increased their level of presence, I would say it’s pretty much the same,’ Tarriela said.
He added that the Chinese would usually send more ships to the area whenever they detect Filipino fishermen arriving accompanied by PCG and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez lauded Marcos’ voicing concern over China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea before world leaders at the US-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
‘PBBM’s statements before US and ASEAN leaders and the world reflect his strong defense of our country’s economic and security interests in waters and sea features that are legally ours and which China is unabashedly and persistently claiming,’ Rodriguez said in a statement.
‘The President’s vigorous assertion of our rights deserves the support of all Filipinos,’ he added.
Rodriguez said Marcos raised for the first time the issue of China establishing a so-called ‘nature reserve’ around Panatag Shoal, a traditional fishing ground of Filipinos about 120 miles off Pangasinan and Zambales.
The Mindanao lawmaker called on the Chief Executive to scrap the e-visa reintroduction plan.