Marcos to push maritime cooperation at ASEAN Summits in Malaysia

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to push for peace and security and maritime cooperation during the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian summit and other meetings in Malaysia next week.

Marcos is scheduled to leave Saturday for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, set for Oct. 26-28.

“I cannot preempt what the President will say at the summit but broadly speaking, peace and security, maritime cooperation are among the topics that will be discussed,” said Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angelica Escalona said Friday at a press briefing in Malacañang.

The Philippines has been embroiled in territorial disputes with China and several other ASEAN members in the South China Sea. The claimant countries have been working for a legally biding Code of Conduct to manage tensions in the disputed waters.

“As regards to the Code of Conduct, well as the incoming chair, the Philippines will work with ASEAN member-states and China for the conclusion of an effective, substantive and legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea,” Escalona said.

She added that the government is “optimistic” the COC could be signed during the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship next year.

Marcos is expected to officially accept the ASEAN chairmanship from Malaysia during the summit’s closing and handover ceremony on Oct. 28.

During the three-day event, ASEAN leaders are also expected to sign the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste as the regional bloc’s 11th member.

Marcos will also witness the signing of the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade.

Escalona said Marcos will also have bilateral meetings with some of the leader attendees.Among those expected to joint the summits are U.S.President Donald Trump and new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

ASEANs 10 current members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.