Marcos to Australia: Continue active engagement in ensuring peace in Indo-Pacific

MELBOURNE, Australia — President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged Australia to continue its active involvement in ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Marcos made the remark during his intervention at the Leader's Plenary Session at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit here. 

''We appreciate the evolution of Australia’s strategic approach towards the region from the mere confines of the Asia-Pacific to our now wider common interests in the Indo-Pacific,'' Marcos said.

''We thus encourage Australia to continue its active engagement both bilaterally and through ASEAN to ensure the primacy of peace and stability through confidence building, preventive diplomacy, and conflict resolution in the region,'' he added. 

The Philippine president further thanked Australia for its consistent support for the rule of law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China's massive claims in the South China Sea. 

''On maritime cooperation, we thank Australia for its consistent support for the rule of law, for the 1982 UNCLOS, and the 2016 Arbitral Award not only through timely statements of support, but also through capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law,'' he said.

''In ASEAN, Australia has consistently supported all ASEAN-led mechanisms through these 50 years,'' Marcos added.

Australia was one of the countries that voiced their opposition to China's latest aggressive actions against Philippine vessels conducting routine resupply operations for Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal off the West Philippine Sea.

"Discussing peace and stability at the #ASEAN50Aus Summit. Australia shares Philippines’ concerns about dangerous actions by China’s vessels at Second Thomas Shoal today," Australian Ambassador H.K. Yu said on X on Tuesday.

"We call for restraint and respect for international law, particularly UNCLOS."

Marcos, meanwhile, commended Australia for hosting the Summit, which paved the way for engagement of emerging leaders in government, business, and civil society.
 
''We hope this engagement will trigger a conversation on the issues facing our region and how they may be addressed through cooperation and partnership,'' said Marcos.

''Our emerging leaders are indeed the bedrock of the sustainability of our continued economic, social, and political progress.''

Marcos, together with the Philippine delegation, is set to leave for Manila on Wednesday night. —KBK, GMA Integrated News