PBBM to tackle SCS issue in ASEAN summit

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Marcos, he said, would emphasize his strong commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on the SCS, as he defends the Philippine territory from any foreign powers. (PCO file photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to discuss the recent developments in the South China Sea (SCS) during the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Laos, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

“Of course, definitely. The President always champions that issue in all of the summits from the very start,” DFA Office of ASEAN Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said in a Palace press briefing when asked if Marcos would raise the SCS issue during the ASEAN summits.

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits will be held in Laos on Oct. 8-11.

Espiritu said Southeast Asian leaders are expected to exchange views on key regional and international issues, beyond consensus on matters of common concern and provide policy directions for the ASEAN community in the future.

Marcos, he said, would emphasize his strong commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on the SCS, as he defends the Philippine territory from any foreign powers.

“The President will continue to defend the Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award,” he said.

Espiritu said the Philippines remains optimistic about the conclusion of negotiations for a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the SCS, noting that the Philippines and other ASEAN member-states have been working for a new COC in the SCS for the past 20 years.

“The desire to conclude that as soon as possible is always there,” Espiritu said.

China, the Philippines, and several other littoral states have competing claims in the SCS, with Beijing claiming about 80 percent of the contested waters.

Asked if ASEAN members would reach a unified decision to reject China’s continued aggression in the SCS, Espiritu said the regional bloc would continue to pursue a diplomatic approach to settling the long-time maritime disputes.

Espiritu, nevertheless, said external partners’ support is vital in addressing the tensions in the SCS.

“In spite of that, the ASEAN member-states have always been committed to a peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea, especially within the ambit of UNCLOS,” he said.

Bilateral, business meetings       

Meanwhile, Marcos will also hold meetings with other heads of state and business leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summits, Espiritu said.

He said the President’s bilateral meetings with Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Japan have already been arranged.

Marcos is also expected to meet with the regional director of short-form mobile video platform Tiktok in Southeast Asia, as well as its other creators and sellers, he added.

Espiritu said Marcos would also meet with Thai fiber cement manufacturer Shera Public Co. and investment holding firm Capital A.

He said the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit organized by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council would also be an “excellent opportunity to promote cooperation in ASEAN and for us to get markets for trade and also for investments in the Philippines.”

Meeting with Filipinos

Marcos is also set to meet with the Filipino community in Laos on the eve of the ASEAN summits at the Wanda Hotel in Vientiane.

Espiritu said at least 400 Filipinos are expected to grace the event.

Most Filipinos in Laos are working in professional capacities and the hospitality business, he said.