President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told members of the Japanese media on Saturday night that China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea has not stopped but that the Philippines will keep working

for peace in the disputed waters.

Marcos warned that China's growing assertiveness seriously threatens its Asian neighbors. "The South China Sea situation is the most complex geopolitical challenge that the world faces," he said.

"I'm afraid we'll have to say that tensions have increased rather than diminished for the past months or the past years… but we continue to counsel peace and continue communication between the different countries — everyone that is involved," Marcos added.

He said he wants to forge strong alliances with like-minded allies since no country wants to start a new conflict, particularly in Asia.

The Philippines, he said, is open to new ideas that will be needed to address the current challenges in geopolitics.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, which overlaps the West Philippines. A 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling based in The Hague shot down China's claim to SCS while affirming the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the WPS.

No answer yet

"I cannot say that we have found the answer yet. We are still trying to formulate that answer as we speak. And things are moving very quickly in many parts of the China Sea, and so there are changes in terms of approaches," he said.

Marcos pointed out that the growing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines is a "very good example of evolution."

Negotiations between the Philippines and Japan have started on a reciprocal access agreement that would permit the stationing of military soldiers on each other's territory.

However, he acknowledged that the Philippines needs additional security bilateral and international agreements.

"It is not sufficient, actually, with just Japan and the Philippines to enter into this agreement. We really must get more of these kinds of arrangements in place," Marcos said, referring to the trilateral agreement between the United States, Japan and the Philippines.

Tensions over claims in the disputed waters started a week ago when Manila and Beijing swapped accusations after a collision of their vessels close to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.

China has also regularly used water cannons against Philippine vessels while swarming with its ships the WPS.

Aside from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei also assert territorial claims to portions of the South China Sea, which accounts for nearly all of the world's ship traffic, worth over $3 trillion annually.