Pres. Bongbong Marcos Attends ASEAN in Lao PDR
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President included in his speech at the ASEAN the situation of the territorial issue with China on the South China Sea.
The territorial issue between the Philippines and China have yet to come to an end. It’s been decades that both countries are pushing for their claims in the disputed areas. However, in the recent months, the tension has escalated.
The territorial dispute between the Philippines and China have reached the Arbitral Tribunal. In 2016, the Tribunal released a decision on the issue and its decision is in favor of the claims of the Philippine government. However, it was never recognized by China.
In fact, even after the Tribunal released a decision that uplifted the rights of the Philippine government over the disputed areas in the eyes of the world, China did not back off even a bit on its claims. It even started building structures in the disputed areas.
The Chinese government has also deployed its vessels in the disputed areas. However, recently, there were instances of alleged dangerous behavior of Chinese vessels against the Philippine vessels in the disputed areas.
However, amid the Philippines being really patient on China asserting its claims on the disputed areas, the Chinese government warned that their patience is limited on the South China Sea issue with the Philippines.
Recently, President Bongbong Marcos flew to Lao PDR to attend the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN Summit. He attended the event with his wife, First Lady Liza Marcos.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, at the ASEAN Summit, Pres. Bongbong Marcos spoke about the escalating tension between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea issue between the two (2) countries.
Marcos cited the “illegally blasted horns, used water cannons, and rammed Philippine vessels,” within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. `
“These kinds of behavior cannot be ignored, and demand of us concerted and serious efforts to truly manage our disputes in the South China Sea,” the Philippine President said.
Based on the report, Marcos acknowledged that there are positive developments that happened in the Philippines but its situation in the South China Sea remains as well as the tension in the disputed area.
At the Summit, the Chief Executive called out the ASEAN and China for the “slow pace” of the deal on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Previously, the ASEAN said that it aims to finalize the Code by 2026.