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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on August 14, 2025. Mark Balmores, PPA Pool

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MARCOS

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176153964046320250814-marcos-judiciary-fiscal-autonomy-PPA-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on August 14, 2025. Mark Balmores, PPA Pool </span></span></span></div><p>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. renewed the Philippine’s commitment to “productive negotiations” for an “effective and substantive” Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.</p><p>This as he expressed concern over China’s dangerous maneuvers and aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea that put Filipino maritime authorities and fishermen in danger.</p><p>“On the South China Sea, it is regrettable that incidents continue to occur in the West Philippine Sea which endanger the lives of Philippine personnel and compromise the safety of our vessels and aircraft,” Marcos Jr. said in his intervention at the ASEAN-US Summit with US President Donald Trump on Sunday.  </p><p>“These include <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/18/ph-navy-warns-of-china-s-dangerous-deceptive-tactics-in-west-philippine-sea-1540">dangerous maneuvers </a>and the coercive use of tools and equipment to interfere with or obstruct legitimate and routine Philippine activities in our own maritime zones and airspace, as guaranteed under international law, particularly UNCLOS,” he added.</p><p>Just two weeks ago, China Coast Guard <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/philippines-says-one-injured-in-china-coast-guard-water-cannon-attack-2043">water cannoned </a>and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/12/china-vessel-deliberately-rammed-philippine-ship-pcg-1125">rammed </a>Philippine vessels near Pagasa Island, violating international law and endangering Filipino fishermen.</p><p>“Moreover, the attempt of some actors to establish the so-called </p><p>‘nature reserve’ status over Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, which is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction, clearly violates not only Philippine sovereignty, but also the traditional fishing rights of our people guaranteed by international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and affirmed by the final and binding 2016 Award on the South China Sea Arbitration and relevant domestic laws,” he added.</p><p>Marcos was referring to China&#x27;s plan to establish a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal which the Philippine government rejected in September.</p><p>The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said it would lodge a formal diplomatic protest against what it called an &quot;illegitimate and unlawful action by China.&quot;</p><p>Despite the aggression, Marcos vowed to remain &quot;firm, calm, and resolute&quot; in its commitment to the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).</p><p>He also renewed his goal of “achieving productive negotiations” towards a long-awaited Code of Conduct that is “effective, substantive, and consistent with international law, particularly UNCLOS”.</p><p>“This commitment is shared throughout all levels of the government, which desires to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct that can effectively govern the behavior of parties at sea,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/26/asean-summit-torn-between-china-and-the-us-0947">ASEAN summit: Torn between China and the US</a></div><p>In the same intervention, Marcos expressed gratitude to the United States for its “steadfast support in promoting peaceful and sustainable seas”.</p><p>He took note of the ongoing collaboration between ASEAN and the United States in combating transnational crime such as human trafficking, cybercrime, illicit drugs, terrorism and wildlife and timber trafficking.</p><p>“This cooperation is of particular importance to ASEAN, including the Philippines, as we continue to confront emerging challenges such as scam hubs, cybercrimes, and other forms of transnational crime that threaten our region’s peace and security,” Marcos noted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/10/27/us-navy-helicopter-jet-crash-into-south-china-sea-0856">US Navy helicopter, jet crash into South China Sea</a></div><div><iframe width="1128" height="634" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2_eD4kmreEA" title="PCG: BFAR vessels harassed by Chinese Coast Guard near Pag-asa Island | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘UNCERTAIN GLOBAL ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Philippine president highlighted the partnership between the regional bloc and the United States in areas of economy, trade and investment as he recognized the ‘uncertainty’ in the global economic landscape.</p><p>“We recognize that the global economic landscape is marked by uncertainty. ASEAN values its partnership with the United States and seeks to build practical, strategic, and forward-looking collaboration that delivers concrete outcomes for our businesses and citizens alike,” he said.</p><p>Trump signed trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia and announced frameworks for trade negotiations with Thailand and Vietnam months after he slapped Southeast Asian nations with steep tariffs on export goods.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/13/dti-looking-at-2026-to-conclude-reciprocal-tariff-negotiation-with-us-1556">DTI looking at 2026 to conclude reciprocal tariff negotiation with US</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/9/dti-warns-of-massive-dumping-of-goods-amid-higher-us-tariffs-0133">DTI warns of massive dumping of goods amid higher US tariffs</a></div><p>Marcos recognized the initiatives of ASEAN and the United States in promoting people-to-people exchanges that “deepen mutual understanding and foster shared values”.</p><p>The chief executive welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN–United States Joint Vision Statement, calling it a strategic framework that “aligns with ASEAN’s long-term vision and strengthens collaboration for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region”.</p><p>“This important document embodies our shared aspirations and aligns closely with both the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yb8TOmwEwEY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. renewed the Philippine’s commitment to “productive negotiations” for an “effective and substantive” Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. renewed the Philippine’s commitment to “productive negotiations” for an “effective and substantive” Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Marcos flags 'dangerous maneuvers, coercive use of tools' in South China Sea

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Marcos flags 'dangerous maneuvers, coercive use of tools' in South China Sea

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 27, 2025 12:38 PM PHT

|

Updated October 27, 2025 08:23 PM PHT

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Marcos

Bongbong Marcos

ASEAN

China

Philippines

South China Sea

West Philippine Sea

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