ON A MISSION President Marcos and his delegation arrive at Wattay International Airport on Tuesday for the four-day 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane. Lao PDR Minister of Mining and Energy Phoxay Xayasone led the officials who welcomed the Philippine delegation. —PPA pool
VIENTIANE, LAOS — President Marcos arrived in this capital of Laos on Tuesday afternoon to meet with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for the annual regional summit, where he is expected to reassert Manila’s claims to the West Philippine Sea amid Beijing’s aggression in the disputed waters.
The President, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, his cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other members of the Philippine delegation landed at Wattay International Airport at 3:16 p.m. local time, where they were welcomed by Philippine Ambassador to Laos Deena Joy Amatong and Lao Minister of Mining and Energy Phoxay Xayasone.
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In his departure speech at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Mr. Marcos said the Philippines would reiterate its position seeking a peaceful resolution to the maritime conflict among some members of the 10-country bloc and China.
“As we continue to grapple with sharpening regional tensions, including the recent dangerous incidents in the West Philippine Sea, I intend to champion our advocacies in promoting an open, inclusive and rules-based international order, and for the peaceful resolution of any disputes in accordance with international law,” he said.
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Romualdez said the 44th and 45th Asean Summits and Related Summits was a critical forum, “as we confront increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.”
“It is vital that we stand united with Asean in promoting an open and rules-based order,” he said.
Filipino teachers
On Tuesday night, Marcos met with members of the Filipino community here, most of them teachers, to reassure them of the country’s commitment to ensuring their welfare.
There are around 2,221 Filipinos living in Laos, most of whom are based in the capital and are professionals or skilled workers in education, mining, engineering and health sectors.
This year’s Asean summit, hosted by Laos, is anticipated to tackle pressing global and regional challenges confronting the bloc.
Expected to attend are the Asean heads of state as well as United States State Secretary Antony Blinken, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and other world leaders.
Among the most critical issues are the civil war in Myanmar, where the regional bloc’s response has been largely ineffective, and escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
The President is also set to have meetings with Asean’s “external partners” for engagements that could “pave the way to advance cooperation” in such areas as food and energy security; trade and investment; supply chain resilience; micro-, small- and medium-enterprises; and addressing the impacts of climate change.
The bloc is also expected to push for the finalization of a long-overdue code of conduct with China on the South China Sea, which was initially conceived in 2002 and formally launched in 2017.
During last year’s summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, the leaders of the bloc called for “self-restraint” in the conduct of activities in the disputed waters, emphasizing the benefits of having the South China Sea as a “sea of peace.”
New water cannon attack
Also on Tuesday, the Philippines reported that China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels fired a water cannon against a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
The CCG vessel fired a water cannon against the BRP Datu Cabaylo near Panatag at 6:30 a.m., BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera told reporters.
Panatag is a traditional Filipino fishing ground about 220 kilometers west of Zambales province.
China has controlled the resource-rich shoal since 2012, following a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy.
In a phone interview, Briguera said three CCG vessels and a Chinese warship “approached at a close distance and shadowed” the movements of the Datu Cabaylo and the BRP Datu Sanday.
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The CCG vessels “attempted to impede the mission of the BFAR vessels but were unsuccessful,” the BFAR said in a statement. —with a report from Nestor Corrales
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