Marcos in Laos, to push for rules-based order

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday vowed to push for a rules-based international order and a peaceful resolution of disputes at the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Summits in Laos, his 29th foreign trip since assuming office.

In his pre-departure statement, Marcos said the annual ASEAN summits are ideal occasions for the Philippines to discuss issues on geopolitical matters and functional cooperation.

“We will also be discussing international issues that impact beyond the region, including the West Philippine Sea, the situation in Myanmar, the conflict in Ukraine, in the Middle East as well, among other important regional and international issues,” the President said in a speech delivered at the Villamor Airbase.

Yesterday at 4:16 p.m. (Manila time), the plane carrying Marcos and members of the Philippine delegation landed at the Wattay International Airport.

“As we continue to grapple with sharpening regional tensions, including the recent dangerous incidents in the West Philippine Sea, I intend to champion our advocacies in promoting an open, inclusive and rules-based international order, and for the peaceful resolution of any disputes in accordance with international law,” he said in his pre-departure speech in Manila.

Marcos’ attendance at the ASEAN events comes at a time when the Philippines continues to grapple with China’s increasingly confrontational actions in the West Philippine Sea, the portion of the South China Sea that is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Three other ASEAN member-countries, namely Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, are also claimants in the South China Sea.

An international arbitral court invalidated China’s expansive claim in the strategic sealane in 2016, but Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.

Marcos said ASEAN leaders are expected to discuss ways to promote regional connectivity among member states, strengthen their resilience and push for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

The engagements with ASEAN’s external partners, the President added, would pave the way for advanced cooperation in areas like food and energy security, trade and investment supply chain resilience; micro, small and medium enterprises and climate change response.

Marcos reiterated that the Philippines would always stand for the principles of international law and the safety of Filipinos in the country and overseas.

“This administration will continue to ensure that our constructive and deepening engagements with ASEAN, our Dialogue Partners and stakeholders serve our national interest and the well-being of the Filipino people,” he said.

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Vientiane run until Oct. 11. Marcos is scheduled to participate in 16 leaders-led engagements to discuss the country’s advocacies in connectivity and resilience, among other areas.

Before the summit, Marcos will meet with the Filipino community in Vientiane. The President may also have bilateral meetings with officials of Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam and Japan.

Marcos attended last night a gathering of the Filipino community at the Wanda Hotel.

He is attending the ASEAN Business Advisory Council today, and possibly meet with the TikTok regional director of Southeast Asia.

There are approximately 2,000 Filipinos in Laos, most of them professionals, including educators, engineers and lawyers.

Philippine Ambassador Deena Joy Amatong said Filipinos are “paid fairly well here and are very much well regarded” by the Lao people.

Meanwhile, amid the prevalence of online scams, particularly in Southeast Asia, the Philippine embassy in Vientiane has been actively assisting Filipino workers seeking repatriation, Amatong said.

She said some Filipinos were illegally recruited or trafficked to work at scam centers in Laos and in other parts of Southeast Asia.

In 2021, the Philippine embassy in Vientiane repatriated more than 240 Filipinos.

“This year alone, we have repatriated more than 116. It is definitely something that the embassy is very much involved in,” the Filipino envoy said.

The Philippines and Laos will celebrate the 70th year of their diplomatic relations next year. — Helen Flores