Marcos at Asean: Cooperation can't exist with coercion

Meeting his fellow Southeast Asian leaders and China's top official here yesterday, President Marcos reiterated his rejection of "unilateral" declarations of marine protection zones in areas within Philippine waters, as he underscored that "cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion.

- By HELEN FLORES

Speaking at the 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Summit attended by Chinese Premiere Li Qiang, Marcos called for self-restraint, mutually beneficial cooperation, meaningful dialogue and constructive engagement in the South China Sea.

"Of course, if we truly want a pathway for the South China Sea to remain a sea of peace, stability and prosperity for all, we should not lose sight of the importance of self-restraint on everyone's part," the President said in his speech.

"Otherwise, the failure to restrain provocative and dangerous actions further threatens the peace and stability that we have collectively built and cultivated over many years," he stressed.

The President expressed concern over troubling incidents at sea where Filipino fishermen as well as Philippine vessels and aircraft continue to face harassment.

Without mentioning China, he lashed out at its plan to establish a "nature reserve" in Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

"Such actions cannot hide under the veneer of marine environmental protection because it has no legal basis or effect, clearly disregards international law and infringes on the Philippines' sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction," the President pointed out.

Nevertheless, Marcos said the Philippines remains committed to diplomacy and dialogue as means to assert its rights and entitlements under international law.

"We will continue to engage constructively to manage differences," he said.

Marcos cited the Philippines' Provisional Understanding with China through which 10 rotation and resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal have been completed without any untoward incident.