President Marcos is expected to push for the speedy conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Code of Conduct (COC) during his participation at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week.

Marcos will follow through on his call to ASEAN member states to fast-track the Code of Conduct, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial said on Thursday, May 22. 

"[B]ack in 2023 the foreign ministers of ASEAN, they agreed to fast track the discussions on the COC and this is what we are backing on during the summits," Imperial said in a Palace briefing.

"The President certainly will push for it, he will raise this with the leaders of the ASEAN and going back to that statement, it’s a reaffirmation of concluding it hopefully among ASEAN and China. In three years since 2023 so we’re looking at 2026, next year," he added.

The President will be participating in the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 26 to 27 at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim who serves as this year’s ASEAN chair.

He will also be attending the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit in the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit.

The Chief Executive is also expected to attend nine leaders’-level engagements – six of these will be held on May 26.

"Now, in all these engagements, the President will continue to uphold and promote Philippine interests in ASEAN such as deepening security and stability in the region, economic cooperation and broadening engagement with dialogue partners," Imperial said.

Marcos, Imperial said, will continue to underscore the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award.

He will also hold possible bilateral meetings with Laos, Kuwait, and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the leaders are also expected to discuss various global issues that impact the region and beyond, including the situation in Myanmar, the United States new tariffs policy, and other geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges that affect the region.

According to Imperial, there will be no trade deals that will be finalized during the summit, however, it will still be part of the discussions. 

"No trade agreements will be finalized, but certainly this will be a topic during the summit," Imperial said.

He added that the President will also stand by the region's decision not to impose a retaliatory measure on the increased tariffs imposed by the United States.

"So, regarding the US unilateral tariffs, I’d like to go back to one the economic ministers did a few weeks back, which they issued a joint statement among ASEAN regarding the unilateral tariffs. And I would like to stress the action of ASEAN member states which is, of course, they’re concerned but at the same time, we will not … the region will not do a retaliatory measure," Imperial said.

"Instead, palalaganapin po natin iyong maigting na more on bilateral and also multilateral engagement with the US para po maging maganda iyong kalabasan ng discussions na iyon (we will intensify more on bilateral and also multilateral engagement with the US for the discussion to be have good outcome)," he added.

The DFA official further said that while the Philippine government is undertaking a bilateral discussion with the United States on the matter, the President is also supportive of the non-retaliatory measures under the ASEAN framework. 

"So, mayroon tayong—the way to see it is mayroon tayong ginagawang bilateral discussion with the United States. And under the ASEAN framework naman, the President is very supportive of those non-retaliatory measures, instead, we are going to do something na iyong it will be beneficial to all the ASEAN member states as a whole," Imperial said.

Imperial further disclosed that there are 22 outcome documents that are expected to be issued during the summits – some will be adopted and some will be noted by the leaders.
 

Some of these outcome documents include the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the ASEAN Vision 2045, the Joint Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, and the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.