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Marcos: WPS incidents put Filipinos at risk

Philippine News Agency

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
October 28, 2025, 7:45 pm

MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday condemned the continued foreign intrusions and hostilities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), warning that these could endanger Filipinos.

During his intervention at the 5th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Marcos stressed the need for an "effective and substantive" Code of Conduct (COC) to prevent provocations at sea.

"On the South China Sea, it is regrettable that incidents continue to occur in the West Philippine Sea that have unnecessarily put Philippines' lives at risk," Marcos said.

Marcos also criticized the "unilateral, forceful, illegal" attempts to declare Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) a "nature reserve."

He maintained that Bajo de Masinloc remains "a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines," emphasizing that the country exercises full sovereignty and jurisdiction over the territory.

He said a binding COC "can effectively govern the behavior of parties at sea."

Marcos also expressed gratitude to Australia for its proactive support for the Philippines through joint exercises such as Alon 25.

"Through all these difficulties, Australia has stood with the Philippines and all peace-loving peoples in desisting provocative and coercive actions," he said.

Negotiations between China and ASEAN are ongoing to craft a COC, which is intended to serve as a framework for managing tension in the disputed South China Sea.

During the 28th ASEAN-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos said partnerships between Beijing and the regional bloc must be rooted in "mutual respect for sovereign, equality and adherence to international law as guiding principles."

Marcos also renewed his call for self-restraint after raising concerns over persistent dangerous actions and harassment against Filipino fishermen and Philippine vessels in the WPS. (PNA)