PBBM nagbilin sa ASEAN leaders na huwag hayaan ang isyu sa South China Sea

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia  – Nakatutok si Pangulong  Marcos Jr. sa implementasyon ng  Declaration of the Conduct of Parties (DOC ) at epektibong konklusyon ng  Code of Conduct (COC)  sa South China Sea. “We will continue to urge all to abide by the 1982 UNCLOS, as ‘the constitution of the oceans.’ We must ensure that the South China Sea does not become a nexus for armed conflict,” pahayag ng Pangulo sa  42nd ASEAN Summit Retreat Session, dito. Dagdag pa niya: “We must avoid the ascendance of might and the aggressive revision of the international order. In an increasingly volatile world, we require constraints on power contained by the force of the rule of law.” Bilang isang archipelagic maritime nation ang Pilipinas, sinabi ng Pangulo na tagapagsulong ang bansa ng rules-based maritime order na batay sa 1982 UNCLOS. Ginawa ng Pangulo ang pahayag sa gitna ng pagkabahala sa mga insidente sa South China Sea partikular na na ang panghihimasok sa sobereniya at hurisdiksyon. “Despite the continued incidents of Filipino vessels in our waters and attempts to deny and obstruct our ability to exercise our sovereign rights in our Exclusive Economic Zone, the Philippines will remain firm in upholding and protecting our entitlements under UNCLOS,” pahayag ng Pangulo.