China said Thursday, Oct. 10, that it is willing to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to manage disputes in the South China Sea after President Marcos sought help from the regional bloc in the face of Beijing's aggression in the waters.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said China remains committed to settling differences with countries concerned through dialogue and consultation.
But China would do that "on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law," she added.
Just the same, she said, Beijing "will continue to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea."
Beijing will also "actively advance the consultations of the code of conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."
On Thursday, Marcos told his ASEAN counterparts during the ASEAN Summit in Laos that the Philippines is still experiencing harassment and intimidation in the South China Sea, citing the recent water cannon incidents and laser-pointing incidents experienced by Filipino troops and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Marcos, China’s aggression and intimidation demonstrate the "continued disregard of international law and standards," particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
"Such behavior is not unnoticed by our respective publics and the international community as well. That they will require a concerted and urgent effort to adopt measures to prevent their recurrence," he said.
But Mao believed that the situation in the South China Sea is still "generally stable."
She then warned against activities that will infringe its supposed rights over the waters.
"China firmly opposes any infringement activities and provocations, and firmly safeguards its own territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," Mao said.