The Russia-Ukraine conflict should stop and all stakeholders must resort to diplomacy, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) doing its share to help in the diplomatic process, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Sunday.

The President made this comment to the press following his attendance to the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS).

“Ang comment ko tungkol sa Ukraine, sinabi ko na kailangan talaga eh matigil ang giyera at mag-usap na sila sa lalong madaling panahon. At dapat ang ASEAN ay gawin ang lahat ng kayang gawin para tulungan ‘yung prosesong ‘yan,” he pointed out.

In his intervention to the EAS, Marcos said nations should exert all possible efforts to bring peace to Ukraine and move the confrontation there into the diplomatic feat.

Asked by the media about the discussion on the South China Sea, the President said he insisted during the EAS that concerned parties must adhere to the rules-based order and follow international law.

“Sinabi ko nga na kailangan eh sundan natin ang batas, kailangan sundan natin ang international law, sundan natin ang UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Marcos told reporters.

“At para naman, dahil napaka halaga ng trade na dumadaan diyan sa South China Sea, hindi lamang para sa Asia kung hindi para sa buong mundo. So kailangan – importanteng importante na hindi magkagulo dito sa region natin,” the chief executive added.

China, during the EAS, expressed readiness to work with ASEAN countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea and to keep the international shipping lanes open and unimpeded for the good of the common development of all countries.

The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which has been implemented for 20 years, has played its role in maintaining peace and stability in the contested waters. #