During the closed-door ASEAN+ China summit, the Philippine leader lamented the overall situation in the South China Sea that “remains tense and unchanged” because of China’s actions, which he said violated international law.

Will Marcos’ gamble pay off? Other ASEAN member states that have been embroiled in territorial disputes with China related to the SCS, directly or indirectly, such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia, should thank Marcos for opening Pandora’s box.

Marcos’ blunt statement is probably the most confrontational one from a leader whose country is in a dispute with China over the natural resources-rich SCS. His frankness probably also reflects the growing frustration of countries in the region with China’s assertiveness.

But a senior Indonesian diplomat believes China will not take Marcos’ resolve seriously, as the old Indonesian saying goes Masuk telinga kanan, keluar telinga kiri (right ear in, left ear out). He said no single country has enough power or courage to face China. Most countries heavily depend on China’s economy, including the United States, Japan and the European Union.

In his speech, President Marcos also rebuked his ASEAN colleagues in the meeting. According to Japanese broadcasting station NHK, Marcos called for “all ASEAN member states not to turn a blind eye to the aggressive, coercive and illegal actions of an external power against an ASEAN member state”.

“Silence in the face of these violations diminishes ASEAN,” Marcos warned.