The Philippines will do its best to avoid “poking the bear” or deliberately antagonizing China in the face of its growing threat in the South China Sea, but Manila will “do more” to assert its sovereign rights in the disputed waters, President Ferdinand Marcos said on Wednesday.

The contentious South China Sea dispute would not be a hot discussion during the Asean Summit in Thailand this weekend as members are likely to welcome the early completion of the first reading of the code of conduct (COC) despite looming concerns.