Ched Rick Gatchalian

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the contract signing of the construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project’s (MMSP) Quezon Avenue and East Avenue Station, as well as the Anonas and Camp Aguinaldo stations. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/pool

 

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Marcos tells China, ASEAN: Exercise self-restraint in SCS to maintain peace, stability

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:646px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761628303829marcos.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech at the contract signing of the construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project’s (MMSP) Quezon Avenue and East Avenue Station, as well as the Anonas and Camp Aguinaldo stations. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/pool</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told leaders of Southeast Asian nations and China to exercise self-restraint to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.</p><p>During his intervention speech at the 28th ASEAN-China Summit, the Philippine president raised anew the harassment and dangerous actions faced by Philippine vessels and aircraft.</p><p>“Of course, if we truly want a pathway for the South China Sea to remain a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity for all, we should not lose sight of the importance of self-restraint on everyone’s part,” Marcos said.</p><p>“Otherwise, the failure to restrain provocative and dangerous actions further threatens the peace and stability that we have collectively built and cultivated over the years,” he added.</p><p>Chinese Premiere Li Qiang represented China in the said summit.</p><p>Marcos did not directly name any country but Philippine authorities and fishermen have been subjected to dangerous maneuvers and use of water cannon by Chinrse coast guard and militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/philippines-says-one-injured-in-china-coast-guard-water-cannon-attack-2043">Philippines says one injured in China Coast Guard water cannon attack</a></div><p>He criticized anew China’s plan to establish a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/11/ph-rejects-china-plan-to-establish-nature-reserve-at-scarborough-1201">“nature reserve” </a>in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, saying that unilateral declarations of marine protection zones only complicates the situation in the major trade waterway.</p><p>“Actions like these cannot hide under the veneer of marine environmental protection because it has no legal basis or effect, blatantly disregards international law, and infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction,” he said. </p><p>Marcos underscored the vital role of enhancing cooperation between the regional bloc and the East Asian giant sans force and intimidation.</p><p>“We could also consider cooperation that mitigates risks of incidents from occurring. This includes mechanisms that would enable artisanal fisherfolk to access their traditional fishing grounds without interference or arrangements that will limit activities in uninhabited features,” he added.   </p><p>“This cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion,” the chief executive said.</p><p>He cited the Philippines and China’s provisional understanding on the rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) on “easing tensions” through “diplomacy and candid” dialogue “without prejudicing national positions.”</p><p>Marcos also renewed the Philippines’ commitment in working towards an “effective and substantive” Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and “does not diminish the rights and interest of third parties”.</p><p>The Philippine president hopes the long-awaited code can “effectively govern the behavior of Parties at sea”.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/27/marcos-flags-dangerous-maneuvers-coercive-use-of-tools-in-south-china-sea-1238">Marcos flags &#x27;dangerous maneuvers, coercive use of tools&#x27; in South China Sea</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE ON THE RISE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Li Qiang, in his invention speech, claimed that there was an increasing “external interference” in the Southeast Asian region, as he accused United States of “economic bullying”. </p><p>“We must pay attention to the new developments on international landscape, unilateralism and protectionism of perfecting the international economic and trade order, external interference in our region is on the rise and many countries are slapped with unwarranted high tariffs,” he said.</p><p>“Development today faces greater risks and challenges. In the face of power politics and economic bullying, we will gain nothing from disunity and confrontation and would only end up divided and conquered by external forces,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/10/11/trump-says-he-will-impose-additional-100-tariffs-on-china-0940">Trump says he will impose additional 100% tariffs on China</a></div><p>The Chinese leader urged the regional bloc to be more resolute in “maintaining unity and self-reliance”.</p><p>“We must defend our legitimate rights and interests through mutual support and coordinated action and promote steady and sound economic growth by leveraging our complimentary strength and deepening our cooperation,” Li added.</p><div><iframe width="923" height="519" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Peq9L-Vt1w" title="Marcos blasts China at ASEAN Summit; Malaysia stresses regional resolution | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told leaders of Southeast Asian nations and China to exercise self-restraint to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told leaders of Southeast Asian nations and China to exercise self-restraint to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Marcos tells China, ASEAN: Failure to restrain ‘provocative, dangerous actions’ in SCS threatens peace, stability

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Marcos tells China, ASEAN: Failure to restrain ‘provocative, dangerous actions’ in SCS threatens peace, stability

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 28, 2025 01:21 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

ASEAN

ASEAN-China Summit

China

West Philippines Sea

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