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Marcos says ASEAN digital pact will guide AI policy; South China Sea code progressing

At the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore on 8 October, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the ASEAN digital economy agreement will guide the region on AI, and that talks on a South China Sea code of conduct are making "good progress".

2 outlets · 0L · 2C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: CNA
Image: Anadolu Agency

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The story, neutrally told

Centre · 1Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Thursday 8 October that the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), due to be signed at the 49th ASEAN Summit in November, will give countries a roadmap on areas such as artificial intelligence. Centre · 2He spoke in a lunch dialogue with Forbes Media chairman and editor-in-chief Steve Forbes on the second and last day of the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore. Centre · 1The Philippines is this year's ASEAN chair; negotiations on DEFA concluded in May. The agreement was first announced in 2023 and sets common rules for digital trade, cross-border data flows, digital payments and online consumer protection.

Centre · 1Marcos said that when the Philippines took the chair he noticed ASEAN "was not talking about AI enough", and that he floated an AI idea modelled on the ASEAN Power Grid. Centre · 1Asked about US tariffs, he said the Philippines would "deal with whatever comes down the pike" and would make adjustments so that trade continues. CNA noted that the US imposed a fresh 12.5 percent tariff on Philippine exports in July, after a 10 per cent baseline tariff from February. Centre · 2On the South China Sea, Marcos said talks between ASEAN and China on a code of conduct were making "good progress", though CNA said he gave no further details.

Centre · 1Anadolu Agency, citing the Philippine Daily Inquirer, reported that he acknowledged difficulties, saying even the definitions of ordinary words had become contentious. ASEAN and China aim to conclude the negotiations by the end of 2026. Centre · 2Marcos said his greatest fear is that a mistake by a seaman or soldier could spiral out of control, but that the parties are determined to reach agreement and de-escalate. Centre · 2On 4 October the Philippine Coast Guard said Chinese vessels obstructed an operation against a suspected dynamite-fishing vessel near Thitu Island. Manila has repeatedly accused Chinese vessels of dangerous manoeuvres, while Beijing maintains its maritime claims.

Centre · 2ASEAN and China adopted a nonbinding declaration in 2002, and talks on a binding code have run since the 1990s. Marcos is visiting Singapore from 7 to 11 October at the invitation of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Both centre outlets report Marcos's Singapore remarks. CNA leads on the digital pact and AI, adding tariff and trade context. Anadolu leads on the South China Sea code and the risk of accidental confrontation.
Emphasis
CNA: DEFA, AI roadmap, US tariffs and trade figures. Anadolu: the difficulty of the code talks, Marcos's fear of a mistake at sea, and the year-end target.
Leaves out or plays down
Anadolu does not mention the digital pact or tariffs. CNA does not report Marcos's remark that even definitions of ordinary words have become contentious.
Charged language
“landmark”
For example
“Parties are also making “good progress” on the code of conduct for the South China Sea” — CNA
“Marcos warns accidental maritime confrontation could escalate as ASEAN, China seek agreement by year-end” — Anadolu Agency

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.