Pres. Bongbong Marcos Speaks on PH-China Tension in South China Sea
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President raised the escalating tension between the Philippines and China at the ASEAN Summit in Lao PDR.
It’s not only years but decades now that the Philippines and China have yet to resolve the territorial dispute. Both nations are armed with strong claims of ownership on the disputed areas.
In 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal released its decision on the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. The international body sided the Philippines on its claims over the disputed areas. However, such decision was never upheld by China.
The Chinese government continued to pushed for its claims on the South China Sea. Reportedly, there were even structures built on the disputed areas and the presence of the Chinese vessels are really evident in these areas.
However, recently, there is a different kind of tension between the Philippine and the Chinese authorities in the disputed areas. There were reports of dangerous turns, blocking, the use of water cannons, and rammed Philippine vessels.
Amid the Philippines seemingly being greatly challenged on how to handle the assertiveness of China on its claim over the South Philippine Sea, the Chinese Defense Ministry previously stressed its ‘limited patience’ on its issue with PH.
Recently, Philippine Pres. Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos flew to Lao PDR for the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. It was graced by national leaders from different countries.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, at the ASEAN Summit, Pres. Bongbong Marcos raised the territorial issue between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea. He detailed how the Chinese vessels “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,” Pres. Marcos said.
Based on the report, Pres. Bongbong Marcos said that there are “positive developments” in the Philippines but the over-all situation between the Philippines and China has not changed. He raised that one incident happened 17 nautical miles away from the nearest coastline of the Philippines and 600 nautical miles away from the mainland China.
The Philippine President called for the negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea which would outline how sea disputes will be addressed. The ASEAN aims to finalize the COC by 2026.