PBBM prods ASEAN to address 'dangerous use' of vessels in South China Sea
At A Glance
- Marcos called on ASEAN member countries and its partners to harness their shared interest and rally together in taking joint action, "guided by ASEAN Centrality and universal multilateralism."
- Marcos also stressed that the Philippines continues to oppose "the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels" in the Philippine waters.
JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to rally and take action over the “dangerous use” of coast guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea as he called on parties anew to not escalate the tensions in the disputed waters.

Marcos said this during the 18th East Asia Summit here on Thursday, Sept. 7.
In his remarks, the President called on ASEAN member countries and their partners to harness their shared interest and rally together in taking joint action, “guided by ASEAN Centrality and universal multilateralism.”
“We must not allow tensions in the South China Sea to further escalate,” he said.
Aside from the ASEAN leaders, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Summit.
Also present were Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US Vice President Kamala Harris, with whom President Marcos had a brief conversation about the South China Sea during the Gala Dinner on Sept. 6.
“In this spirit and in accordance with the DOC, we continue to urge all parties to exercise self-restraint and refrain from unilateral and assertive activities that would increase tensions in the region, misunderstandings, and miscalculations in the South China Sea,” Marcos said, referring to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
“We are concerned over consistent actions that are in violation of obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and under the DOC,” he added.
Marcos also stressed that the Philippines continues to oppose “the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels” in the Philippine waters.
He added that the Philippines is concerned about the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and the militarization of reclaimed features in the South China Sea.
“The Philippines remains resolute towards the peaceful resolution of disputes,” the President said.
“We continue to support freedom of navigation and overflight, and the rules-based international order in the South China Sea,” he added.
At the same time, Marcos reiterated that the Philippine government was pleased with the developments during the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) held in Manila a few weeks ago.