President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will push for the adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea when it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026.
Marcos stressed the importance of setting clear rules and keeping communication lines open with other claimants to avoid conflict and assert the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea in part four of the third episode of the BBM Podcast,
“We will certainly try because it is very, very important. Pagka nagkaroon ng ganyan, magiging maliwanag kung ano ‘yung rules sa lahat, hindi lamang sa atin,” the President said.
Marcos said a binding agreement, especially one involving China, would give the Philippines stronger footing in protecting its waters from intrusion.
“That will make things a bit easier kasi hindi ka nag-aalangan na baka may mangyari, ano ang mangyayari. Hindi na puwedeng mangyari ‘yan dahil pumayag na… nagpirmahan na tayo, nag-agree na tayo na hindi nating gagawin ‘yan,” he said.
He pointed out that the most tense area in the West Philippine Sea lies within Philippine waters, making the push for a formal agreement more urgent.
The code of conduct is particularly important, he explained, for the Philippines because the most contested area in the West Philippine Sea is located near its territory.
“So, that’s why it is very, very important. And it’s very important to the Philippines because ang pinakamainit na lugar sa West Philippine Sea ay dito sa banda sa atin. Kaya mahalaga sa atin na magkaroon tayo ng code of conduct,” Marcos added.
Marcos clarified there has been no change in the government’s position on the West Philippine Sea, saying he remains firm in defending the country’s territory while continuing a foreign policy of neutrality.
The President added that open communication is key to managing disputes.
“We can only control what we do. We cannot control what other countries do. But we keep our lines of communication… Once the lines of communication are closed, then there is no room for improvement. That’s why we keep the lines of communication open,” he said.
Marcos has consistently urged his fellow ASEAN leaders to speed up talks on the COC, as tensions continue in the region due to China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea, including within the West Philippine Sea.
