The PHILIPPINES will promote a rules-based arrangement between entering its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea during a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Laos this week, its leader said Tuesday, as did China. fired water rivals in the Philippines fishery bureau ships.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. he said his country continues to face “escalating regional tensions,” citing “recent dangerous incidents” inside the Philippine EEZ.
“I intend to support our recommendations in promoting an international order that is open, inclusive, and based on rules, he said in his speech before flying to Laos on the 44th.th and 45th Conferences of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN).
Manila will continue to insist on “peaceful resolution of any disputes in accordance with international law,” he added.
Before flying to Laos, the Philippine Navy confirmed reports that Chinese ships fired water bombs at two ships of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) bringing supplies of Filipino fishermen to Scarborough Shoal, which Manila called Bajo de Masinloc.
“The CCG vessels tried to intercept the operation of the BFAR vessels but failed,” the BFAR statement said.
“They opened and directed their water guns, but this did not succeed in reaching the boats of the Filipinos,” the agency added.
“Without dangerous movements and the opening of water cannons, both BFAR ships were able to supply Filipino fishermen in the Bajo de Masinloc area.”
A controversial 2016 ruling that removed China’s claims in the South China Sea said the fishery is traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese fishermen. China has successfully controlled the population since 2012.
BFAR said its fleet was able to supply the Philippines’ mother boats and 16 small fishing boats.
The Philippine agency said it will not be prevented from patrolling all Philippine marine areas and provide Filipino fishermen with support “following its mandate to enforce all laws and rules and regulations in the management and conservation of fishing resources.”
SUMMIT AGENDA
Apart from the South China Sea disputes, Mr. Marcos said ASEAN leaders are expected to focus more on the situation in Myanmar led by the Junta, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East.
He said the Philippine government is working for the safety – and repatriation – of more than 40,000 Filipinos in Lebanon and Israel.
His government recently made a clear decision on the conflict in Gaza, one of the two Palestinian territories – the other is the West Bank – that the Israeli government has been trying to invade for years.
Last month, the Philippines joined 123 other countries in agreeing to a United Nations resolution calling on Israel to stop occupying Palestinian territories within a year.
The unrest in the Middle East continues to escalate following Israel’s attack on Gaza following the attack by the terrorist group Hamas on October 7 last year.
Israel launched its offensive in southern Lebanon last week, as it vowed to attack “targeted areas of Hezbollah terrorists” that it says pose an “immediate danger” to communities in northern Israel.
“I am happy to report that no Filipinos have been reported injured in this crisis that we are hearing about in the news,” said Mr. Marcos, speaking of “the wave of attacks against Hezbollah in the past few days, and the Iranian result. revenge on Israel.”
The tensions are the latest in a series of cross-border conflicts following Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
“The Philippines urges all parties to avoid escalation of violence and work towards peaceful conflict resolution,” said Mr. Marcos, whose country is seeking a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
He said the Philippine embassies were working to obtain exit and transportation documents for Filipinos who want to return to their country.
“Of the 1,500 who applied for repatriation from Lebanon, one in three has returned home, and one in three, about 500, are still being processed,” he said.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs will “expedite” the return process, he added. The immigration department “will be chartering planes to bring them home.”
This month, the two agencies intend to repatriate at least 162 Filipino overseas workers from Israel, Mr. Marcos.
Over the weekend, Foreign Secretary Eduardo Jose A. de Vega said more than 100 Filipinos will be repatriated from Lebanon in batches from October 11 to 28 amid Israeli bombings.
The list includes 15 Filipinos whose repatriation scheduled for September 26 did not go through due to the cancellation of commercial flights.
The agency previously said the Philippines was having trouble getting landing rights for chartered flights.
Meanwhile, Mr. Marcos said he will be participating in meetings with ASEAN’s foreign partners, “enhancing cooperation” in areas such as food and energy security, trade and investment, supply chain resilience, and the climate agenda.
The Philippine leader has increasingly pushed for his country’s integration at the regional and global levels, pursuing multilateral economic and security deals including the ASEAN-dominated ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The day before flying to Laos, Mr. Marcos met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the presidential palace in Manila as the latter held a two-day visit to the Philippines, the first leg of his three-nation tour of Southeast Asia. He also returned to a forum organized by businesses in the Philippines and Korea later in the day, talking about liberal economic reforms in the country including a law inspired by Singapore that greatly reduced the corporate tax rate. His administration is pushing to revise the bill to further reduce the CIT and simplify the withholding process. – Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
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