THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) remains the “most important mover” in resolving regional conflicts, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, as tensions in the South China Sea rise again.
Marcos underscored the importance of Asean in resolving regional concerns, such as the South China Sea issue and the civil unrest in Myanmar, during the presentation of credentials of Brunei’s Ambassador Megawati Dato Paduka Haji Manan in Malacañang.
“Asean remains the most important mover for all of what we attempt diplomatically in terms of the conflicts that we are seeing,” the President told the ambassador.
Six parties — the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and China — hold claims over the disputed South China Sea.
The Asean comprises 10 member countries, of which Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand are not South China Sea claimants.
China claims “historical rights” to almost 90 percent of the South China Sea, an area roughly demarcated by the nine-dash line.
Other claimants have rejected those claims.
Additionally, an international arbitration tribunal in 2016 ruled that China’s claims had no legal basis.
Apart from regional concerns, Marcos also discussed with the ambassador Brunei’s support in bringing stability to the southern Philippines.
In his remarks, the President noted how Brunei helped uplift the living conditions of the people in Mindanao.
“We have to thank Brunei for the assistance and support that we have been receiving in the southern Philippines, in the Muslim autonomous region, which has been a big factor in what we think is going to be a successful autonomous region,” Marcos said.
“I hope that Brunei continues to give our Muslim community in the southern Philippines whatever opportunities are available because that is the best way to assert that having peace is to give a good life to the people, a life that they would like to deserve,” he added.
The President shared with Ambassador Manan that the Philippines has been bringing as much development as quickly as possible in the area that will increase economic activity so people will have good living conditions and all the essentials to turn them away from fighting and secessionist activities.
In response, Manan said it would certainly be Brunei’s direction to increase the level of cooperation with the southern region, considering that there are certain commonalities with Brunei.
“And so we hope that we will branch out, you know, expand the existing cooperation to give some, a little bit more opportunities for the south side,” she told the President.
“As Mr. President is saying, giving them more big opportunities so that they’ll feel that they’re more empowered in terms of uplifting their lives as well,” the envoy said.
Also on Thursday, Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Bin Anthony also presented his credentials to the President, who recognized Kuala Lumpur’s role in bringing peace to the southern Philippines.
Marcos said he expects Malaysia to continue participating in the development of the Bangsamoro region.
“It’s going to be very, very important because as long as we can provide…. One of the complaints over the many, many years from the Muslim community in the Philippines was that they are underrepresented and underdeveloped.
And they were absolutely right,” he added.
“We are trying to fix that. We are trying to return a balance,” the President said.
The Malaysian ambassador said as the region gains stability, he believes that what Malaysia has done so far will sustain the progress of Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Marcos expressed hope for enhanced cooperation with Chile and Qatar, particularly on disaster response, climate change adaptation, energy security and revenue mobilization.
He welcomed the two countries’ new ambassadors to the Philippines — Chilean Ambassador Alvaro Domingo Jara Bucarey and Qatar Ambassador Ahmed Saad Nasser Abdullah Al-Hamidi — to Malacañang.
In welcoming the Chilean ambassador, Marcos said the Philippines needs partners as countries slowly redefine their economies for post-Covid and post-Ukraine scenarios.
The President noted that the Philippines is looking at new technologies and best practices around the world to transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewables.
He particularly cited that while the Philippines is considered one of the top producers of geothermal power, the country has to explore other areas as old geothermal sources start to run out. Bucarey told Marcos that the good thing with Chile is its potential for both solar and geothermal energy.
“With solar energy, we have been able to modify the energy production in Chile. And we would like to see the north of Chile … there is a lot of presence, tourism mostly but they have an immense potential for energy generation,” he said.
Marcos expressed delight for the opportunity to explore with the Chilean ambassador some of the new ideas and technologies that are available to both countries.
“So I look forward to that, Mr. Ambassador, and I’m very happy that you have come as the envoy from your country and I am sure, I hope that you will get to see some of my country,” he said.
On the other hand, Marcos expressed hope that the Philippines could work closely with Qatar.
He noted that it will be a great advantage to the Philippines if it can learn the best practices from Qatar, especially in revenue and income generation.
“I think that there are many areas that will provide us opportunities for partnership,” the President told the Qatari ambassador.
Al-Hamidi said his country is willing to work with the Philippines in exploring some of the opportunities that the two countries feel they have great potential through years of vibrant diplomatic relations.
Source: Manila Times
