Jakarta, Indonesia – Hinikayat ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang mga kapwa lider na dumalo sa Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit dito, na gumawa ng kaukulang hakbang kaugnay sa mapanganib na paggamit ng coast guard at maritime militia vessels sa South China Sea.
Sabi ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., patuloy na igigiit ng Pilipinas ang sovereign rights at maritime jurisdiction sa Philippine waters.
“We must not allow tensions in the South China Sea to further escalate,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos sa harap nina Chinese Premier Li Qiang, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, at iba pang world leaders.
“In this spirit and in accordance with the DOC, we continue to urge all parties to exercise self-restraint and refrain from unilateral and assertive activities that would increase tensions in the region, misunderstandings, and miscalculations in the South China Sea,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.
“We are concerned over consistent actions that are in violation of obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and under the DOC,” dagdag ni Pangulong kung saan ang tinutukoy niyo ay ang Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Patuloy na nanindigan ang Pangulo na tinutulan ng Pilipinas ang “the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels” sa Philippine waters.
Nababahala rin aniya ang Pilipinas sa illegal, unreported, at unregulated fishing at militarization sa reclaimed features sa South China Sea.
“The Philippines remains resolute towards the peaceful resolution of disputes. We continue to support freedom of navigation and overflight, and the rules-based international order in the South China Sea,” pahayag pa ni Pangulong Marcos Jr.