At the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting, tensions in the South China Sea were a major point of discussion.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. criticized China for actions he claimed violated international law, leading to recent confrontations with the Philippines and Vietnam.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang defended China’s stance, citing foreign interference as a source of tension and promoting dialogue as a solution.

The U.S., represented by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, also plans to address these tensions, advocating for freedom of navigation in the disputed waters.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for the swift finalization of a code of conduct for the waterway.

Meanwhile, ASEAN aims to upgrade its free trade pact with China by next year.

Despite the tensions, ASEAN countries maintain strong trade ties with China, which has led to hesitance in openly criticizing China.

ASEAN also elevated its relationship with South Korea to a comprehensive strategic partnership and discussed enhancing cooperation with Japan on maritime law enforcement and economic security.