No talk on WPS between Marcos, Chinese Premier Li Qiang at ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that he was unable to discuss with Chinese Premier Li Qiang the situation in the West Philippine Sea. 

At a press briefing before returning to Manila from the ASEAN summit, which Li also attended, Marcos was asked if he was able to talk with the Chinese official about the resource-rich region.

According to Marcos, they only talked about the United States’ unilateral tariffs. 

“No. I only spoke it to him... He was at—it wasn't in a meeting. He was sitting next to me at lunch. I was sitting next to the Chinese Premier and the Foreign Minister of UAE,” Marcos said. 

“Walang ano, tinanong ko lang sa kanya, sabi ko [I only asked him]...What is the Chinese perspective of this new unilateral tariff schedule?” he added. 

China currently claims ownership over almost all of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

While a ruling Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague sided with the Philippines and stated China’s claims over the South China Sea had “no legal basis” in 2016, China has not recognized said decision and continues its aggression in the region. 

Still, Marcos mentioned that he has always pushed for the adoption of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea. 

“I always push the Code of Conduct. Always. Always. It's critical to everything that's happening,” Marcos said. 

“You know, if you have a Code of Conduct, essentially, freeze-frame muna. Okay, hanggang diyan na lang tayo. Huwag na nating palalain,” he added. 

(We'll stop here and not make it worse.)

“Tapos, ayan, mag-usap tayo [Then we will talk]. That will contain mechanisms also of adjudication or trying to—de-escalation processes. Kasama lahat ‘yan [That's all part of it],” Marcos said. — BM, GMA Integrated News