VIENTIANE, Lao PDR — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders to not overlook the aggressive and unlawful actions of an external power against an ASEAN member state.
While not naming any specific country, the ASEAN Summit this year follows heightened tensions between Chinese vessels and Filipino as well as Vietnamese fishermen in recent months.
“We urge all ASEAN members not to ignore the aggressive, coercive, and illegal actions from external powers that target any of our member states.
These acts undermine their claims of genuine adherence to our shared values,” Marcos emphasized during the ASEAN Leaders Retreat.
He warned that such actions contradict ASEAN’s mission of unifying the region against external threats, ensuring that each member state’s sovereignty is respected and protected from interference, subversion, and coercion.
“Silence in response to these violations weakens ASEAN,” he stressed.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a critical trade route through which trillions of dollars in commerce pass each year.
However, several ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brunei, have conflicting territorial claims over various islands and reefs.
The Chinese coast guard has been accused of harassing Philippine government vessels and fishermen, and recently, Vietnam condemned an attack on its fishermen near the Paracel Islands by what it described as “Chinese law enforcement forces.”
China has insisted that the Paracel Islands are part of its sovereign territory and said its personnel were simply responding to “illegal fishing” activities.
On Thursday, Marcos reiterated to ASEAN leaders that the “situation in the South China Sea remains tense and unresolved.”
He noted that Filipino vessels continue to face harassment and intimidation in the region, and called for all parties to engage in dialogue to manage their differences and de-escalate tensions.
Marcos highlighted incidents where the Chinese coast guard harassed Philippine vessels patrolling near the Escoda Shoal within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), including deploying a missile ship to chase away Filipino vessels.
He criticized China’s disregard for international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
Marcos stressed that ASEAN must remain united and vigilant in protecting its regional order from external forces that seek to exploit or divide the organization.
He emphasized the need to reject actions that violate international law and undermine ASEAN’s foundational principles.
China has long sought to solidify its presence in disputed areas of the South China Sea, ignoring an international tribunal ruling that invalidated its broad territorial claims.
The country has built artificial islands equipped with missile systems and airstrips, and the Philippines has accused China of harassing its vessels and obstructing its fishermen.