Kuala lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has strongly condemned the ongoing foreign intrusions and hostilities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), asserting that these actions pose a significant risk to Filipinos.

According to Philippines News Agency, during his address at the 5th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Marcos highlighted the urgent need for an 'effective and substantive' Code of Conduct (COC) to mitigate provocations at sea. He lamented the continued incidents in the WPS, emphasizing the unnecessary risk they pose to Filipino lives.

Marcos criticized the 'unilateral, forceful, illegal' attempts to declare Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, a 'nature reserve.' He reaffirmed that Bajo de Masinloc is a 'longstanding and integral part of the Philippines,' underscoring the country's full sovereignty and jurisdiction over the territory. He advocated for a binding COC to effectively regulate the behavior of parties at sea.

Expressing his gratitude to Australia for its proactive support, Marcos acknowledged joint exercises such as Alon 25, which demonstrate Australia's solidarity with the Philippines in resisting provocative and coercive actions. He praised Australia for standing with the Philippines and other peace-loving nations.

Negotiations between China and ASEAN are currently underway to establish a COC aimed at managing tensions in the disputed South China Sea. At the 28th ASEAN-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos stressed that partnerships between Beijing and the regional bloc should be based on 'mutual respect for sovereign equality and adherence to international law as guiding principles.'

Marcos reiterated his call for self-restraint, raising concerns over the persistent dangerous actions and harassment against Filipino fishermen and Philippine vessels in the WPS.