Manila [Philippines], December 17 (ANI): Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr highlighted the importance of addressing the challenges posed by a “more assertive” China, emphasizing the necessity for the Philippines and its Asian neighbors to plan “new solutions,” CNN Philippines reported.
Speaking to Japanese media on Saturday, Marcos mentioned that the tensions within the South China Sea “have increased rather than diminished for the past months or the past years,” CNN reported citing Presidential Communications Office.
He emphasised the significance of advocating for peace and steady communication among the many concerned international locations, regardless of the rising complexities of the South China Sea concern.
He additional mentioned, “[T]hat’s why we have to–but we continue to counsel peace and continue communication between the different countries–everyone that is involved,” CNN Philippines reported.
Marcos is on a go to to Japan to attend the Commemorative Summit for the fiftieth Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
Marcos acknowledged the worldwide context, referencing the continuing Russia-Ukraine battle as a tragedy and recognizing the reluctance of any nation to provoke new conflicts, particularly in Asia.
He careworn the complexity of the South China Sea concern and added that no nation on the earth needs to begin a brand new battle, significantly Asia, contemplating the continuing conflict between Russi and Ukraine, which he referred to as a “tragedy.” He additional mentioned the Philippines is able to discover “new solutions” to new issues.
He mentioned, “I cannot say that we have found the answer yet. We are still trying to formulate that answer as we speak. And things are moving very quickly in many parts of the China Sea and so there are changes in terms of approaches, [the aggravations],” in keeping with CNN Philippines report.
Marcos hailed the rising collaboration between the Philippines and Japan, terming it a “very good example of evolution.” He additional mentioned the trilateral settlement between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines will not be sufficient and emphasised that there needs to be extra agreements at multilateral and bilateral ranges.
In 2016, an arbitral tribunal established below the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea declared China’s claims within the South China Sea, which overlapped with the West Philippine Sea (WPS), null and void. However, China continues to harass vessels of automobiles in Manila’s unique financial zone.
Last week, a commissioned Philippine vessel on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in WPS sustained “serious engine damage” after the China Coast Guard (CCG) blasted it with a water cannon. The Armed Forces of the Philippines asserted that it was “short of armed attacks,” CNN Philippines reported.
In at the least three cases in August and November, CCG ships fired water cannons at Philippine Coast Guard vessels whereas they have been heading to Ayungin Shoal. On October 22, China tried to dam one other resupply journey which triggered a collision between a CCG vessel and a Filipino resupply boat. (ANI)