Kuala lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. strongly protested China's plan to establish a 'National Nature Reserve' in the Scarborough Shoal during the East Asia Summit (EAS) here Monday. 'Just recently, our northern neighbor has declared a so-called 'National Nature Reserve' in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. We strongly protested such a declaration,' Marcos said in his intervention.
According to Philippines News Agency, he emphasized that Bajo de Masinloc remains a 'longstanding and integral part of the Philippines,' where the country exercises full sovereignty and jurisdiction. 'The Philippines likewise has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones,' he said. 'The establishment of the so-called 'nature reserve' violates the Philippines' sovereignty over the shoal, impairs the traditional fishing rights of our fisherfolk, and contravenes international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Award on the South China Sea Arbitration, and relevant domestic laws,' he added.
He said Manila will continue to defend its sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction while constructively managing differences with other claimant states. The President stressed the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in reducing tensions, noting that continued engagement among regional partners can help prevent conflict. The 20th EAS, held at the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, is a major forum for Asia-Pacific leaders to discuss pressing political and strategic issues.
Representing China in the Malaysia meetings is Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The EAS is composed of the 11 ASEAN member states and dialogue partners, including Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the United States. Marcos pointed out that increased dialogue, through fora such as the EAS, is needed to help the region navigate emerging challenges. 'There is the pressing need to have sincere efforts towards constructive diplomacy, coupled with restraint, de-escalation, and respect for international law,' he said. 'In our increasingly interconnected world, conflicts could threaten regional and international peace and security,' he added.
In his opening remarks, ASEAN Chair and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the South China Sea issue must be resolved within ASEAN and with regional partners. '[A]s is the case with all issues, we want it to be resolved within ASEAN, and ASEAN with our partners in the region [sic] because the moment it's seen to be imposed and dictated by outside forces, things become more problematic and tense,' he said. 'As far as we are concerned, things are still under control.'
The bloc, he added, 'still urges strongly' all parties engaged in the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea negotiations to 'universally recognize principles of international law,' specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In its 2023 piece, China Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post that 'individual external forces' are sowing discord to undermine peace in the South China Sea. Negotiations between China and ASEAN are ongoing to craft the COC, which is set to serve as a set of rules to manage tension in the disputed South China Sea.
At the ASEAN-India Summit on Oct. 26, Marcos also urged stronger cooperation on the rule of law and peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. 'Both ASEAN and India should see peaceful settlement of disputes and maritime cooperation as essential, as our seas contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region,' he said in his intervention during the dialogue between ASEAN leaders with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi.
Marcos, who made a state visit to India last August, said deeper cooperation between ASEAN and India is vital, as the South Asian nation, which is poised to become the world's fourth-largest economy, has a lot to offer to ASEAN. 'As a committed Dialogue Partner that recognizes ASEAN Centrality through its Act East Policy, which stresses ASEAN as a core pillar of its engagement policy, we may also turn our gaze to India for solutions to our common concerns,' he said. He then thanked Modi for India's consistent support for international law and the rule of law in the oceans.
Marcos said as ASEAN Chair next year, the Philippines looks forward to undertaking activities to celebrate the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation in 2026. These, he said, would include the conduct of maritime exercises to promote freedom and safety of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.
