PBBM to ASEAN, Gulf heads: Ensure unimpeded trade in SCS, Arabian Sea
Philippine News Agency
By Darryl John Esguerra
May 27, 2025, 3:54 pm
MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on Southeast Asian and Gulf leaders to ensure freedom of navigation and uninterrupted trade in the South China Sea and Arabian Sea, calling the key bodies of water as "lifelines" to regional and international commerce.
Speaking before fellow heads of state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos underscored the strategic importance of both seas as vital arteries for global commerce.
"The South China Sea and the Arabian Sea cover vital sea lanes that serve as lifelines to regional and international commerce both in our regions," the President said at the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit.
Amid rising tensions and maritime disputes, particularly in the South China Sea, Marcos emphasized the need for strict adherence to international law, highlighting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the cornerstone of maritime governance.
"As such, it is necessary to provide the freedom of navigation, to guarantee unimpeded commerce, and to protect the marine environment through compliance with established international law, specifically UNCLOS," he added.
The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint, with China asserting sweeping claims that overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several ASEAN countries, including the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Arabian Sea remains a critical route for energy exports from the Middle East, vulnerable to regional instability and piracy.
The President has been advocating for rule-based international order in maritime affairs, amid its own legal victory at The Hague in 2016 which invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. (PNA)
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