Two key phrases capsulized the message of the Philippines to the world at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which are "rules-based" and "global order" — the necessary elements of stability.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo brought the country's message on behalf of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr., who is attending to domestic commodity price problems.

Without reference to any country, the foreign affairs chief said in his address that adherence to international law will help keep the Indo-Pacific region "free and open.''

Manalo, nonetheless, sought an amicable resolution of disputes in the West Philippine Sea amid the heightened tension in the disputed seas that included near collisions and a hose-down of a Philippine vessel.

"(WPS') present and future rest on the predictability and stability of international law, which safeguards the rights of all states. If multilateralism must endure, all states must adhere to the rule of law,'' he said.

The message was addressed to the world's superpowers, which seem to have shortcomings in their contribution to attaining global tranquility.

China has been asserting its historical right over practically the entire South China Sea and has built structures inside the West Philippine Sea, which the Philippines contend was within its exclusive economic zone as provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It refused to abide by the Permanent Court of Arbitration decision, invalidating its historical claim while insisting that it follows international norms and the UNCLOS.

The PCA at The Hague is a body under the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea.

Another superpower, the United States, has underlined the need for China to respect freedom of navigation on the disputed waters. Still, it cannot invoke UNCLOS since it is not a signatory.

US Congress had refused to ratify the international pact for fear that it might endanger US resources.

The Philippines has been working with the US to resist China's aggressive actions to stake its claim, but the Americans' inability to resolve its incapacity to recognize an international agreement hobbles its moral ascendancy.

Since Manalo made it clear that the country advocates a peaceful settlement, and dialog with China presumably remains on the table.

Not tried yet is a tripartite dialog among the Philippines, the US, and China that may push forward the stalled agreement on the Code of Conduct that remains the light at the end of the tunnel to calm the regional friction.

Both superpowers must set aside their distrust of each other to come to a responsible agreement to benefit the world.

The US and China must coexist to preserve global order, and the path is the rules that bind nations.

The US and China compete economically as the latter remains the beacon of capitalism while the mainland is considered the world's factory.

Since both, because of their national interest, are deficient in one way or another, these superpowers must learn to allow a little space to find a middle ground.

It will be all for the removal of uncertainties in the Asian region, as the world is already full of problems that both global giants can join hands to resolve.