20-11-2023 (MANILA) In a bid to address concerns over the South China Sea, Philippine President Marcos announced on Monday that discussions with neighbouring countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam, are underway with the aim of formulating specific guidelines for bilateral conduct in the disputed region.
According to reports from Reuters, China and Southeast Asian nations have formally commenced the third reading of the “South China Sea Code of Conduct,” intensifying efforts to expedite negotiations and achieve a mutually agreeable code at the earliest opportunity. However, President Marcos noted on Monday that progress towards a broader agreement with China regarding the South China Sea has been limited.
Expressing discontent with what he perceives as China’s “aggressive” actions, President Marcos, who has voiced his concerns multiple times since taking office, concurrently signaled a strengthening of ties with Manila and Washington. The United States remains the Philippines’ sole military ally.
Speaking during a live-streamed event in Hawaii, President Marcos highlighted the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, emphasizing the necessity for collaboration with allies and neighbouring nations to uphold peace in this vital maritime passage. He remarked that the current situation is “growing increasingly serious.”
Addressing efforts to facilitate the establishment of a code of conduct for the South China Sea with China and other Southeast Asian nations, President Marcos stated, “We are awaiting results, unfortunately, progress has been slow.” He added, “We have proactively engaged with other Southeast Asian countries with whom we have territorial disputes, including Vietnam and Malaysia. The aim is to establish a code of conduct specific to the interactions between our respective nations.”
“We hope that this code of conduct can evolve and extend to other Southeast Asian countries,” President Marcos expressed optimistically.
