VIENTIANE, Laos — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday reiterated his call for adherence to international law amid China's continuing aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
Speaking to reporters, Marcos said he had raised the issues on the South China Sea during the interventions at the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Summits here.
"I didn't specify the details, but that's the general principle of the adherence to the rule of law and the Unclos. That's just a general theme," Marcos said during a chance interview when asked if he discussed the developments in the South China Sea.
"We'll have a chance to get into more detail maybe in the next couple of days," he added.
The President's statement came a day after the Philippine Navy confirmed reports that Chinese vessels fired water cannons at two ships of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) delivering supplies for Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal, which Manila calls Bajo de Masinloc.
"The CCG [China Coast Guard] vessels attempted to impede the mission of the BFAR vessels but were unsuccessful," BFAR said in a statement.
The BFAR said the CCG "opened and directed their water cannons, but this failed to reach the Philippine civilian boats."
A 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea said the shoal is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese and Vietnamese fishermen. But China has effectively controlled the shoal since 2012.
Before flying to Laos, Marcos said his country continues to grapple with the "sharpening regional tensions," citing "recent dangerous incidents" within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
"I intend to champion our advocacies in promoting an open, inclusive, and rules-based international order," Marcos said.
The Philippines would continue to push for the "peaceful resolution of any disputes in accordance with international law," he added.
Meanwhile, Marcos said he would pursue cooperation with partners in the Asean to address present challenges in the region and the world.
Addressing the Filipino community here on Tuesday night, the President said he planned to advance the Philippines' national interests, such as maintaining peace and security in the region and strengthening the economy.
"The world and our region are facing challenging times. From conflicts in Europe to the Middle East to global existential threats such as climate change and natural and man-made disasters to transnational crime and economic downturns — all these, in one way or another, affect the lives and livelihoods of peace-loving and hardworking people like yourselves," Marcos said.
"So, my participation and that of the Philippines in the Asean meetings is precisely to find ways to cooperate with partners to better meet the challenges of today, to forge a better future for our beloved Philippines," he added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said that the issue of human trafficking was expected to be discussed during the Asean Summit.
Laos is part of the "golden triangle" — along with parts of Myanmar and Thailand — which has become notorious for illegal drug trade and human trafficking.
"Human trafficking is a common concern within Asean because it now impacts not only in the Philippines but on many of its members," Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said in an earlier briefing.
Marcos, in his scheduled attendance at the Asean Business and Investment Summit, also said he would encourage them to explore the promising economic opportunities in the Philippines.
With the country being one of the most dynamic and best-performing economies in Asia, Marcos assured businessmen his administration would continue to work hard to sustain this upward trajectory.
The annual regional forum will focus on tackling the prolonged civil war in Myanmar and territorial tensions in the South China Sea.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit will also be followed by meetings with global powers, including China, the United States and Russia, which are contending for influence in the region.
The timing of the meetings in Vientiane makes it likely that talks will also touch on the escalation of violence in the Middle East, although Southeast Asia has faced only indirect fallout.
Asean's influence has historically been limited even among its own members, but the forum has often served as a platform for dialogues among superpowers looking to engage with the region.
The 10 member states of Asean — Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos — will also hold talks with their dialogue partners from elsewhere in the region, including Japan, South Korea, India and Australia on topics ranging from the economy to climate change and energy.
This year's summit will be the first for several new national leaders.
Thailand's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who took the premiership in August, emerged as the bloc's youngest leader at 38.
Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will represent the country after he took over from Lee Hsien Loong, who stepped down in May after 20 years.
Vietnam also has a new leader after President To Lam took office in August, but the country will be represented by its Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, Asean's biggest member, is skipping the forum as his successor Prabowo Subianto prepares to take office later this month, sending Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in his stead.
It will also be the first overseas trip for Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was confirmed just last week.
Thailand's Paetongtarn said Monday the Myanmar crisis is an "extremely important issue" that will be raised during the meetings.
The violence and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar have rapidly worsened since the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule.
Myanmar's junta has agreed to an Asean peace plan that calls for ceasefire and mediation but has continued battling pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic rebels in a war that has killed close to 6,000 people.
Myanmar is expected to send Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Aung Kyaw Moe to the summit, its first high-level representative at the summit in three years, after Asean barred it from sending political representatives in late 2021.
Allowing a senior diplomat from Myanmar to join the meetings "will be perceived as Asean is compromising, confirming the concern that Asean is experiencing fatigue in dealing with the crisis," said Lina Alexandra, senior researcher at Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. That means the chances for any significant breakthrough on the crisis remain slim, she said.
Much discussion is also likely to focus on the maritime territorial disputes between Asean member states and China in the South China Sea, one of the world's most crucial waterways for trade.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have overlapping claims with China, which claims sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea and has become increasingly aggressive in attempts to enforce them.
Indonesia has also expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing's encroachment on its exclusive economic zone.
Tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated this year, with Chinese forces using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers to prevent food and other supplies from reaching Filipino navy personnel involved with staking a claim on a tiny atoll.
Despite a deal in July to end confrontations, tensions flared again in August after vessels from the two countries collided, with each side accusing each other of deliberately causing the collision.
The Philippines, a longtime US ally, has been critical of other Asean countries for not doing more to get China to back away from its increasingly assertive approach.
Last week, Vietnam charged that Chinese forces assaulted 10 of its fishermen with iron bars, damaged their gear, and stole their catch off the disputed Paracels Islands, calling it a serious violation of Vietnam's sovereignty.
While members are likely to focus on the disputes at the forum, there's little chance of clear outcomes as those who are not in direct conflict with China will likely prioritize ties with Beijing, said Muhammad Faizal Abdul Rahman, research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
"It is the preference for conflict avoidance while getting geostrategic benefits where possible," he said. "In reality, national interests matter more than regional interests."
WITH AP
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