PBBM backs early approval of South China Sea code of conduct
President Ferdinand R. “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is hoping that a code of conduct in the South China Sea based on international law will be approved soon.
In his intervention during the 25th ASEAN-China Summit, President Marcos said the immediate conclusion of the COC becomes more relevant as nations mark 40 and 20 years of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), respectively.
“It shall be an example of how states manage their differences: through reason and through right. I, therefore, welcome the progress on textual negotiations on the COC this past year and hopefully an approved code of conduct in the very near future,” Marcos said during the summit as he noted that it is vital that the UNCLOS continues to be upheld as the universal framework in oceans and sea activities.
Addressing post-pandemic recovery, the Philippine chief executive emphasized that ensuring food security is one way to protect the populace from shocks and that 2023’s designation as the ASEAN-China Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation is a welcome incentive for increased cooperation.
The President stressed the importance of protecting the environment and its resources while expressing his gratitude for the support shown to the Philippines in hosting the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
Marcos said that ASEAN Centrality must continue to be the cornerstone of collaboration, stressing that people and communities are the “truest” indicators of ASEAN’s success or failure.
The chief executive stated that in the face of rising geopolitical tensions, nations must consistently choose collaboration over rivalry.
According to Marcos, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will increase its potential even further, which is why the Philippines is making every effort to accede as soon as feasible.
Premier Li Keqiang was present for China at the conference.
