Manila, Oct. 28 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued a strong stance against coercive actions in the South China Sea, pointing out in a leaders' meeting between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Tuesday that "cooperation cannot exist alongside coercion."

In an intervention at the 28th ASEAN-China Summit with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Kuala Lumpur, Marcos said Manila is open to engage both the 11-member bloc and Beijing "in diplomacy and mutually beneficial cooperation."

"The Philippines stands ready to work with ASEAN and China to translate our commitments into meaningful outcomes through mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.

"It must be clear, however, that this cooperation cannot exist alon...