PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. is expected to stress the Philippine position on regional and international issues, including abiding by the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea, during the leaders meeting and plenary sessions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Australia Special Summit today in Melbourne in Australia.
Yesterday, the President attended a reception hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and dinner hosted for the ASEAN leaders and their spouses.
Marcos is expected to attend two main engagements during the summit today, which are the Leaders’ Plenary and Leaders’ Retreat which will be focused on strengthening collaboration under the 2021 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with key focal points on emerging business leaders, climate and clean energy initiatives, and maritime cooperation.
Marcos is also expected to thank Australia anew for its unwavering support for the rule of law, for the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award made through their statements of support, and capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law.
The President, prior to the summit, said his attendance to the event is important as it “presents an opportunity to reiterate the Philippines’ national positions on regional and international issues and set the tone for ASEAN’s Dialogue Partner Summits later in the year.”
Marcos said his administration will continue to ensure that the Philippines’ constructive engagements with ASEAN, its external partners, and stakeholders, will best serve the country’s national interest as well as promote the region’s peace, stability, security, and prosperity, for the well-being of the Filipino people and the those in the ASEAN region.
The President has been in Melbourne since March 4 and has met with business leaders and members of the Filipino community.
Marcos also had a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on the sidelines of the summit, and addressed the Lowy Institute, where he said that the Philippines will continue to cooperate and engage China diplomatically but it will be forced to “push back” when issues of sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea are “questioned or ignored.”
He also said the protection and promotion of the Philippines’ interests are the main consideration in foreign policy decisions, especially those concerning the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea, and not the dictates or influence of the United States.
He said he said there were “narratives” that the Philippines is “at the beck and call, practically, of the United States when it comes to these foreign policy decisions, especially surrounding the South China Sea,” which is not true
The President is expected to return to Manila late Wednesday night.