ASEAN support sought vs ‘hegemonic ambition’ in SCS

JAKARTA – As the region faces tensions over clashing claims in the South China Sea, President Marcos called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to let the international order fall prey to “hegemonic ambition” as he vowed to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight in the disputed area and to meet the challenges to Philippine sovereignty.

Speaking during the 43rd ASEAN Summit Retreat here last Tuesday, Marcos said the Philippines would continue to work with all countries to foster a rules-based international order and remain committed to a peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea.?

But he also admitted that the vision of the South China Sea being a sea of peace, stability and prosperity “remains a distant reality.”?

“We will continue to uphold and exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including, of course, the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” the President said.?

“But let me be clear. We do not seek conflict; but it is our duty as citizens and as leaders to always rise to meet any challenge to our sovereignty, to our sovereign rights and our maritime jurisdictions in the South China Sea. No country would expect any less. No country would do any less,” he added.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in a longstanding maritime dispute over some parts of the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than $5 trillion in goods passes every year.

Taiwan and ASEAN members Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich region.

In 2016, a Hague-based arbitral court invalidated China’s maritime claim in the South China Sea, which ruling China has refused to recognize.

While the Philippines and China have agreed to set up a hotline that would allow their officials to talk and to prevent untoward incidents in disputed waters, reports about Chinese vessels driving away fishermen and harassing Philippine Coast Guard patrol ships in the South China Sea persist.

While he did not mention China in his speech, Marcos reiterated the importance of the rule of law and ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“History will ultimately judge whether the supremacy of the rule of law prevails, ushering in an era where all nations truly stand as equals, independent and unswayed by any single outside power,” Marcos said.

“The challenge for us remains: we must never allow the international peaceful order to be subjected to the forces of might applied for a hegemonic ambition. The future of peace rests now on how we together face this challenge to that peace,” he added.

While some observers view the South China Sea row as a setting of the rivalry between the US and China in the region, Marcos said the Philippines firmly rejects “misleading” narratives that frame the disputes solely through the lens of “strategic competition between two powerful countries.”

“This not only denies us our independence and our agency, but it also disregards our own legitimate interests,” the Chief Executive said.

In previous speeches, Marcos said the Philippines won’t adopt a “Cold War” mentality, wherein a country is forced to take sides in a geopolitical rivalry.

A Palace statement released earlier this year said the Philippines is in a “precarious balancing act,” noting that China is one of its largest trading partners, while the US is its defense treaty partner.

During the 24th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, Marcos thanked South Korea for upholding the UNCLOS as a key pillar of the rules-based international order “as the region faces unilateral attempts to change the status quo in its waters.”?

Marcos again did not mention China in his speech, but spoke about “militarization of reclaimed features” and the “dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels and other coercive activities.”

“We share concerns on the militarization of reclaimed features; the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels and other coercive activities,” the President said.

“We are equally alarmed by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing which are being detected.”

During the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit also yesterday, Marcos lauded Tokyo for supporting efforts to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region and opposing the militarization of reclaimed features in the South China Sea.

“I cannot emphasize enough the expediency of maintaining peace and stability in the region through the adherence to the rule of law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS. Our shifting security issues make it quite clear that we must work together for the sake of peace and stability in our region and in the world,” Marcos said.

During the 11th ASEAN-US Summit, Marcos commended the US for its contributions to the issuance of the “Spirit of Camp David” and welcomed the trilateral maritime exercises conducted among the coast guards of Manila, Tokyo and Washington.

Code of conduct

In the presence of Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the 26th ASEAN-China Summit yesterday, Marcos reiterated that the Philippines upholds the primacy of UNCLOS as the framework within which all activities in the seas and oceans are conducted. He also pushed for the early completion of a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

“The early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, remains the goal for ASEAN and for China,” he said.

Li said China and ASEAN have maintained close exchanges and communication and have respected each other’s development paths “no matter how the international situation evolves.”

“We seek common ground while setting aside differences, properly handle disagreements through dialogues and consultations and consistently deepened practical cooperation in the traditional and non-traditional security views,” the Chinese leader said. ?

Marcos also pointed out during the ASEAN Retreat that one test of the regional bloc’s relevance is its ability to facilitate a peaceful resolution in Myanmar.  ?

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the issue on the West Philippine Sea – the portion of the South China Sea inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf – would likely be tackled if the meeting of the leaders of the three countries pushes through.  – Pia Lee-Brago