Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged China and fellow Southeast Asian nations to deepen cooperation anchored on diplomacy and respect for international law, saying peace and stability in the South China Sea can only be sustained through mutual respect and self-restraint.
Speaking at the 28th ASEAN-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Marcos said the Philippines stands with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in pushing for a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea that upholds the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“If we truly want a pathway for the South China Sea to remain a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity for all, we should not lose sight of the importance of self-restraint on everyone’s part,” Mr. Marcos said.
“Otherwise, the failure to restrain provocative and dangerous actions further threatens the peace and stability that we have collectively built and cultivated over the years,” he added.
President Marcos said it was regrettable that incidents in the South China Sea persist, citing the continued harassment of Philippine vessels and aircraft.
He denounced unilateral actions such as China’s declaration of a “nature reserve” in Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal.
“Actions like these cannot hide under the veneer of marine environmental protection because it has no legal basis or effect, blatantly disregards international law, and infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction,” Mr. Marcos said.
“Nevertheless, the Philippines remains committed to diplomacy and dialogue as the means to assert its rights and entitlements under international law,” he added.
President Marcos cited the bilateral Provisional Understanding with China on rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, through which 10 missions have been completed without incident.
He said this agreement demonstrates how effective diplomacy and candid dialogue can ease tensions and produce positive outcomes, and urged all parties to expand diplomatic creativity for that purpose.
The Philippine leader also proposed enhanced cooperation between ASEAN and China on maritime scientific research, ocean meteorology, and protection of marine biodiversity, in line with the recently ratified Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
On the economic front, Mr. Marcos welcomed the signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol, saying it will help modernize trade practices and address emerging challenges.
He also thanked Malaysia for coordinating ASEAN-China relations and for finalizing the 2026–2030 ASEAN-China Plan of Action, which sets the course for deeper regional cooperation.
The Philippines, he added, looks forward to serving as Country of Honor at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo in 2026, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening cultural, educational, and tourism ties.
He said doing so will ensure that ASEAN-China cooperation continues to deliver tangible and meaningful benefits to the peoples of the region while advancing a shared vision of peace, stability, prosperity, and sustainability.
