Tensions in the South China Sea have “increased rather than diminished” in the past few months, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, warning that a “more assertive China” posed a “real challenge” to its Asian neighbors.
In an interview with Japanese media on Saturday, Marcos underscored the need to forge strong alliances with like-minded allies, akin to the trilateral cooperation among the Philippines, Japan and the US.
His comments came as leaders from Japan and ASEAN at a special summit in Tokyo yesterday adopted a joint vision that emphasizes security and economic cooperation while respecting the rule of law, amid growing concern over China’s maritime activities in the region.
Photo: Reuters
“I’m afraid we’ll have to be able to say that tensions have increased rather than diminished for the past months or the past years,” a news release from Marcos’ office quoted the president as saying.
A week ago, Manila and Beijing traded accusations over a collision of their vessels near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea as tensions over claims in the vital waterway escalate.
In addition to the Philippines, Taiwan and ASEAN members Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the South China Sea disputed by China, which claims almost all of the sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said that China’s claims had no legal basis, a ruling the US supports, but Beijing rejects.
The Philippines and Japan have started talks on a reciprocal access agreement that would allow the deployment of military forces on each other’s soil, amid growing tensions in the region. Japan also has maritime disputes with China.
“It is not sufficient actually with just Japan and the Philippines to enter into this agreement. We really must get more of these kind of arrangements in place,” Marcos said.
In Tokyo, the leaders, in a joint statement, called for strengthening their “mutually beneficial” partnership and working together for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in maritime security.
“We affirm the shared view to promote a rules-based Indo-Pacific region that is free and open [and] embraces key principles such as ASEAN’s unity and centrality, inclusiveness [and] transparency,” the joint statement said.
The leaders stressed “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means and renunciation of the threat or use of force.”
They did not specifically mention China.
Additional reporting by AP
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