President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated the importance of having a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (SCS) and open lines of communication to assert and protect the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In part 4 of the third episode of the BBM Podcast, Marcos said he would push for the adoption of the final COC in the SCS, when the Philippines assumes Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship in 2026, in a bid to ease tensions in the hotly contested waters.

“We will certainly try because it is very, very important. Pagka nagkaroon ng ganyan, magiging maliwanag kung ano ‘yung rules sa lahat, hindi lamang sa atin (When that happens, the rules will be clear for everyone, not just for us),” the President said.

Marcos said it would be easier for the Philippines to protect the WPS from foreign intrusion if there is a legally binding COC and open communication lines with sea claimants, especially China.

“That will make things a bit easier kasi hindi ka nag-aalangan na baka may mangyari, ano ang mangyayari. Hindi na puwedeng mangyari ‘yan dahil pumayag na — nagpirmahan na tayo, nag-agree na tayo na hindi nating gagawin ‘yan (because we will not be worried that something might happen or will happen. That can’t happen anymore because there is already an agreement. We have signed and agreed that we will not do that),” he said.

“So, that’s why it is very, very important. And it’s very important to the Philippines because ang pinakamainit na lugar sa West Philippine Sea ay dito sa banda sa atin. Kaya mahalaga sa atin na magkaroon tayo ng (the most contested area in the West Philippine Sea is here on our side. That’s why it is important for us to have a) code of conduct,” Marcos added.

The President clarified that there is no shift in his stand when it comes to upholding the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the WPS, saying he would continue defending the country’s territory while pursuing a foreign policy of “being a friend to all and an enemy of none.”

He expressed confidence that the Philippines “can do both” of its goals of charting an independent foreign policy and protecting its waters.

“Because continuing to defend strongly our territory is not mutually exclusive from being a friend to all and an enemy of none. Wala naman talaga tayong kinakalaban eh. Lahat naman kinakaibigan natin (Because we are not really picking a fight. We are befriending everyone),” he said.

“We can only control what we do. We cannot control what other countries do. But we keep our lines of communication… Once the lines of communication are closed, then there is no room for improvement. That’s why we keep the lines of communication open.”

Marcos has repeatedly called on his fellow ASEAN leaders to expedite discussions for the adoption of the COC in SCS to reduce regional tension amid China’s aggression in the busy waterway, including the WPS. PNA