Marcos condemns coercive actions in West Philippine Sea, urges stronger ASEAN-US alliance

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ strong support for deeper cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), highlighting shared progress in cybersecurity, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

Speaking at the 26th ASEAN–ROK Summit on Monday, Marcos praised South Korea’s expanding role as a “valued partner” in strengthening ASEAN’s political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars.

“We note the ROK’s initiatives on cybersecurity, such as the ASEAN Cyber Shield (ACS) Project, which aims to build capacity and train cybersecurity experts across the ASEAN region, thereby enhancing ASEAN’s overall cybersecurity response capabilities,” Marcos said on the second day of the 47th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur.

On maritime cooperation, Marcos emphasized South Korea’s vital role in promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development across the region, stressing that ASEAN’s maritime priorities must remain grounded in international law and a rules-based order, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The president said the Philippines looks forward to co-chairing with South Korea and the United States the upcoming ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Best Practices for Port State Measures to Combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, which aims to bolster regional maritime security and sustainability.

Marcos also welcomed South Korea’s continued support in disaster management, citing the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) program, funded through the ASEAN–Korea Cooperation Fund. The initiative enhances disaster response capacity through standardized training and certification across ASEAN member states.

On the economic front, Marcos lauded the launch of negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN–Korea Free Trade Area (AKFTA), calling it a timely move to strengthen economic ties and ensure that the partnership remains relevant amid global headwinds.

“The review of the AKFTA is an important signal of our shared determination to keep markets open and to push back against growing protectionist tendencies,” he said, underscoring both ASEAN and South Korea’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and cooperation in trade.

“I am confident that ASEAN and the ROK will continue to work together to advance peace, prosperity, and security in our region because we are guided by a common goal of uplifting the lives of our peoples,” Marcos said.