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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Presidential Communications Office

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Pia Gutierrez

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/1748233926359500230057_1116549503831108_6781976379508878699_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Presidential Communications Office </span></span></span></div><div><br id="isPasted"/></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea, as he underscored the need for the peaceful solution of disputes and maritime cooperation in order to maintain regional stability.</p><p>The Philippine leader made the statement as he delivered his intervention during the plenary of the 46th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he noted on the importance of collective action amid geopolitical tensions and other challenges that threaten to erase the regional bloc’s hard-earned progress.</p><p>“We underscore the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea. This is to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea,” Marcos said.</p><p>The Philippines earlier condemned China’s use of water cannons against a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic vessel in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/22/china-coast-guard-used-water-cannoned-sideswiped-ph-research-vessel-bfar-1652">Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, &#x27;sideswiped&#x27; govt vessel</a><br/><a href="http://Philippines says China Coast Guard fired water cannon, &#x27;sideswiped&#x27; govt vessel">Chinese incursions in West PH Sea pull down Pinoy fisherfolk&#x27;s catches: BFAR</a></div><p>Marcos also expressed support for the ASEAN’s consensus to avoid retaliatory measures after the imposition of increased <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/5/26/southeast-asian-leaders-meet-to-talk-tariffs-truce-and-east-timor-0946">tariffs by the United States.</a></p><p>“This measured and unified approach upholds ASEAN&#x27;s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and a rules-based multilateral trading system,” he said.</p><p>The Philippine leader earlier noted the need for Southeast Asian leaders to find consensus in responding to the issue amid “the disparate situations that the different member states are operating under.”</p><p>ASEAN Chairman and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that he had already requested President Donald Trump to meet collectively with ASEAN leaders to discuss the implementation of increased tariffs, even as ASEAN countries have already started bilateral negotiations with the United States.</p><p>The President also called on deeper regional cooperation on emerging and transboundary challenges including climate change and transnational crime.</p><p>“ASEAN has always been an outward-looking community, guided and anchored by a common set of values – our love for peace and concern for the welfare of our peoples. Let me thus urge all member states to remember that to meaningfully engage our partners, we must advance these values and interests sensitive, of course, to our external partners&#x27; respective strengths and challenges,” Marcos said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/09/11/19/china-warships-plying-ph-waters-without-permission-irked-duterte-locsin">China warships plying PH waters without permission irked Duterte - Locsin</a></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on the ASEAN to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea. </p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on the ASEAN to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Marcos renews call for South China Sea code of conduct at ASEAN summit

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Marcos renews call for South China Sea code of conduct at ASEAN summit

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2025 12:34 PM PHT

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