During the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Kuala Lumpur, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. criticized China's actions in the South China Sea while expressing optimism about finalizing a Code of Conduct and inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to Manila in 2026. This approach highlights the Philippines' dual strategy of asserting sovereignty and seeking diplomatic progress as it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship. Concerns arise that prioritizing the code could lead to concessions amid ongoing tensions.
The ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025, saw President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. address leaders, including US President Donald Trump, criticizing unnamed 'actors' for attempting to establish a 'nature reserve' at Scarborough Shoal. He stated that this 'clearly violate[s] Philippine sovereignty and the traditional fishing rights of Filipinos,' emphasizing the shoal as a 'long-standing and integral part of the Philippines' under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award. This followed China's September 2025 announcement designating the area a national nature reserve for marine protection.
At the East Asia Summit later that day, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang present, Marcos was more direct, protesting the 'so-called National Nature Reserve' in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal by the 'northern neighbor.' He affirmed the Philippines' 'exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas' and vowed to 'uphold our sovereignty, rights and jurisdiction' while engaging constructively.
On October 28, 2025, during a press conference on the summit's final day, Marcos expressed optimism about the Code of Conduct (COC) negotiations, ongoing for over two decades between ASEAN and China. As incoming ASEAN chair in 2026, he said Manila 'cannot fail' in concluding talks. When asked about inviting Xi, Marcos replied: 'I would certainly invite him, that's for sure… to show to President Xi Jinping how sincere we are…. And so if we get to that point where President Xi will actually consider coming to the Philippines, it would mean that we have made significant progress. And that would be a great thing.'
The Philippines aims to host the ASEAN and East Asia summits in 2026, with Xi potentially attending APEC as China's host that year. This goal raises concerns of 'appeasing China,' given Beijing's preference for a non-binding COC without ASEAN-led monitoring, contrasting some members' push for a robust agreement. A 1999 precedent saw the Philippines remove the BRP Benguet from Scarborough Shoal to secure a visit by then-Premier Zhu Rongji, weakening its position, as noted by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio.
Separately, on November 1, 2025, at the APEC summit in Korea, Marcos shook hands with Xi, congratulating him on China's APEC chairmanship and expressing hopes for cooperation. He described it as a courteous gesture to avoid offense.
As ASEAN chair starting January 1, 2026, the Philippines will allocate P17.5 billion for hosting hundreds of events, leveraging ties for security in contested waters.
