Marcos discusses South China Sea, human trafficking at ASEAN Summits

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. will discuss recent developments in the South China Sea during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu confirmed that the President's attendance includes championing Philippine sovereignty and defending territorial claims based on international law, including the UNCLOS framework and the 2016 arbitral award.

The Philippines aims to conclude negotiations for a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as soon as possible, emphasizing the importance of external partners' support in addressing maritime disputes.

Other regional issues such as human trafficking will also be discussed, with the Philippine government cooperating with other nations to address these concerns.

Marcos is expected to hold bilateral meetings and business discussions on the sidelines of the summits, including engagements with Canada, New Zealand, Vietnam, Japan, and TikTok's Southeast Asia regional director.