The voices of smaller nations in Southeast Asia and Australia must not be sidelined in the power struggle between the United States and China, the Philippines president warns.
In an address to the Lowy Institute in Melbourne on Monday night, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr rejected the idea of regressing to the "old bipolar Cold War formula" that forced smaller nations to choose between two powers competing for influence.
"There are those who continue to see regional development solely from the narrow prism of great power rivalries," he said.
Mr Marcos Jr said too much emphasis on the rivalry between China and the US came at the expense of the legitimate maritime interests of countries such as Australia, the Philippines and other ASEAN member states.
"It obscures our judgement," he said.
"It distracts us from calling out aggressive, unilateral, illegal and unlawful actions for what they are - attacks against the rule of international law."
The relationship between the Philippines and China has deteriorated since Mr Marcos Jr took office in 2022 amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the country forging closer ties with the US.
Mr Marcos Jr rejected characterisations the Philippines was at the beck and call of the US on foreign policy, especially regarding the sea dispute.
"The Philippines acts for its own interests ... It is not policy that has been foisted upon us by any country," he said.
The Philippines would work with China on matters of aligning interests and respectfully disagree on areas where views differed, Mr Marcos Jr said.
"We shall never surrender even a square inch of our territory," he said.
"The future of this region will be shaped not by one or two, but by many actors, and they will each demand that their voices be heard individually and collectively."
Mr Marcos Jr signalled support for the AUKUS agreement, under which the US and Britain will provide Australia with nuclear submarines.
"AUKUS will enhance regional stability," he said.
"A coalition, because it has a larger base, is much more robust in resisting any kind of unilateral move by any other country."
About 40 people brandishing signs and banners gathered outside the ASEAN summit at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre earlier on Monday to oppose Mr Marcos Jr's visit.
The group called for Australia to cut ties with the Philippines due to alleged human rights abuses.
The protesters carried a black cardboard coffin with "RIP Democracy" scrawled on its side.
A paper mache effigy of what appeared to be the head of Mr Marcos Jr, with a social media dog filter and a US flag as its tongue, was placed atop the coffin.
Human Rights Watch has alleged that extra-judicial drug-related killings and the abuse of human rights defenders have continued under Mr Marcos Jr's government, following on from the previous Duterte administration.
The Philippines leader is in Melbourne to attend the three-day ASEAN summit alongside officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore and Thailand.
Australia is not a formal member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations but has been a dialogue partner for the past 50 years.
