Marcos: China’s aggression ‘felt most’ by PH than any other Southeast Asian country

SINGAPORE – The Philippines is bearing the brunt of China’s aggression in the South China Sea than any other nation in Southeast Asia, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. 

In an exclusive interview with the Straits Times, the chief executive pushed back on observations that the Philippines is the “most aggressive one” in terms of resisting Chinese behavior in the South China Sea compared to its neighboring countries in the region.

“We have never been aggressive in any way whatsoever. To say aggressive is to go out and initiate some kind of conflict. We have never done that. We’re there, we’re in our country and all we do is defend our rights, defend our territory. So no, we have not been aggressive at all,” Marcos Jr. said 

“We have been the point at which aggression is felt most than any other country in the region. I can assure you, the aggression does not come from the Philippines,” he added.

Philippine maritime vessels and Filipino fishermen have been the subject of multiple harassment and dangerous maneuvers of the Chinese Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the West Philippine Sea.

On October 9, the Philippine Coast Guard said a CCG vessel made dangerous maneuvers near BRP Cabra and activated its water cannon while conducting an emergency medical evacuation of a Philippine Navy personnel stationed aboard BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

“It took nearly ten because of the CCG’s water cannon use, its persistent harassment and blocking, and its dangerous maneuvers against PCG assets,” the PCG stated. 

Marcos Jr. remains optimistic on the possible gas and oil exploration with China in the South China Sea, saying that it is something that he thinks “both countries would like to pursue”.

“If we keep it at a purely commercial level and do not enter into territorial conflicts and the resolution of who owns what and who belongs where, what law will apply, so long as we can come into agreement on that, I don’t see why we should not be able to have that partnership,” he said. 

While negotiations on the long-awaited Code of Conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN member-states and China have been going on for years, Marcos Jr. admits finishing it by November as the Philippines’ hosts leaders in the regional bloc under its chairship remains uncertain.

“It’s very hard to say, okay, we will finish it by November… I am not confident to say it will be done. What I would say is, we have made a great deal of progress, and we will continue to work. We will not stop working on it,” he said. 

The code was envisioned to upgrade the ASEAN and China’s 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea by having a pact to manage tensions in the waters where different parties have separate claims.

Several contentions have been hounding the negotiations in coming up with a legally binding document including its scope and basis and China’s position. 

During his attendance at the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference here in Singapore, the Philippine leader expressed ‘continued optimism’ on the conclusion of the long-awaited agreement.

“Sometimes it’s a bit frustrating that just the definitions of ordinary words are becoming bones of contention. But we are determined to come to an agreement and to hopefully de-escalate the situation,” he had said. 

In May, Marcos Jr. said he is still “aspiring” that the agreement will be finalized before the year ends.