MANILA, Philippines — Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday called for the rule of law to be upheld in resolving the issues surrounding the South China Sea.

The leader, in Manila for a three-day state visit, issued the appeal following his meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang.

Marcos said the South China Sea was a mutual interest of the Philippines and Singapore and that he was looking forward to having the opportunity to reaffirm the country's commitment "to promote peace, security, and stability in the region," as well show its strong support to achieving a peaceful resolution to any disputes involving the waterway.

Shanmugaratnam reiterated that disputes in the South China Sea were "an extremely important issue."

"Singapore's position of course is well known we consistently upheld the rights of all states to freedom of navigation and overflight and strongly supported the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law including the 1982 UN Convention of the law of the sea or Unclos. That's fundamental," he said.

"Unclos has to be the legal framework within which all the activities in the oceans and seas are carried out," he added.

The Philippines is no stranger to disputes in the South China Sea, particularly its territorial row over the West Philippine Sea with China.

Latest in the list of Manila's long list of issues against Beijing is the "unjustified, illegal and reckless" maneuvers of Chinese warplanes over Bajo de Masinloc last August 9.

Aircraft of the People's Liberation Army-Air Force (Plaaf) were said to have executed a "dangerous maneuver" and "dropped flares in the path" of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) NC-212i plane doing a routine aerial inspection.

"We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace," the Palace said in a previously issued statement, referring to dialogues between the Philippines and China that eased tensions over the resupplying of a Philippine military station in Ayungin Shoal.

It also urged China "to demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies."

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