West PH Sea, Myanmar crisis among issues tackled during Marcos-Yacob meet

Flags of Singapore (left) and the Philippines (right).

ORCHARD ROAD, Singapore — Keeping peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea was one of the key topics discussed during the bilateral meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Singaporean President Halimah Yacob on Wednesday.

In a joint statement posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the two leaders specifically reaffirmed their nations’ stand on the decades-old Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the completion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The Philippines as well as other countries in Southeast Asia and China are in a long-standing row over portions of the South China Sea. Beijing is asserting its sweeping claims in the vast body of water. overlapping territories within Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and The Philippines.

But the Philippines won its historic case against China in 2016, with The Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that Beijing’s “nine-dash line” over the South China Sea is invalid. China, however, has repeatedly refused to recognize the decision.

“The Leaders reiterated Asean’s consistent position on the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in and above the South China Sea, and peaceful resolution of disputes without resorting to threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is of universal character and sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out,” the joint statement reads.

“They underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and to conduct substantive negotiations towards the conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including 1982 UNCLOS, and that safeguards the rights and interests of all parties in the South China Sea,” it also states.

Both leaders likewise stressed there is a need to maintain negotiations, especially in light of the 20th anniversary of DOC and the 40th anniversary of 1982 UNCLOS this year.

Meanwhile, Marcos and Yacob also expressed concern about the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar, calling for the release of all political detainees in the civil war-stricken country.

“The Leaders expressed deep concern about the situation in Myanmar, including the prolonged political crisis in the country and the recent execution of four opposition activists. The Leaders called for the release of all political detainees including President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and foreign detainees,” says the joint statement.

“The Leaders reaffirmed the Chair’s Statement of the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta on 24 April 2021, and called for Myanmar to avoid actions that would be inimical to eventual national reconciliation in Myanmar.”

Strategies to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its continuing impact on the economies were likewise talked about by the leaders, who both agreed that there is a need to place sustainable measures to allow the reemergence of the economy.

“Both sides discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recognized the importance of closer cooperation to enable both countries to emerge stronger together from the pandemic in an inclusive and sustainable manner. The Leaders also welcomed the support that both countries provided to each other, including on medical supplies and equipment, since the beginning of the pandemic,” the statement reads.

“The two Leaders also emphasized the importance of bolstering mutual economic resiliency, and agreed that both countries should explore ways to improve supply chain connectivity and resilience.”

The government delegations of Singapore and the Philippines signed six key deals on the second day of President Marcos’ state visit here. The agreements include a joint communique where Singapore expressed intention to hire more Filipino health workers, and cooperation on the field of data security.

Other pacts involve digital cooperation, development of the New Clark City, assigning teams to the Counterterrorism Information Facility, and other collaborations on water.

Marcos is expected to have a jam-packed schedule for the last day of his state visit in this rich city-state, as he would attend a series of meetings with potential investors. During his meeting with the Filipino community, the President said the Philippines considers Singapore as one of its leading source of investments.

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KGA