Marcos: PH won’t yield to any foreign power

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THE Philippines will not yield to any foreign power that threatens its sovereignty and territory, President Marcos Jr. said yesterday as he called on Australians and other allies to “join forces” in the face of threats to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Addressing the Australian Parliament, the President also highlighted the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia and talked about recent developments in the South China Sea as he likened the situation to the time of World War II. He said like then, the Philippines finds itself in the frontline against actions that undermine regional peace, erode regional stability, and threaten regional development.

He said the country is standing firm in defending its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, despite the odds.

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“I shall never tire of repeating the declaration that I made from the first day that I took office: I will not allow any attempt by any foreign power to take even one square inch of our sovereign territory. The challenges that we face may be formidable, but equally formidable is our resolve. We will not yield,” he added.

The President thanked Australia for standing with the Philippines amid recent developments as he reiterated that the country and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region including Australia must reinforce each other’s strength and continue to oppose actions that violate international laws.

“Today, we add a further dimension to the relationship as we address concerns on our security and defense. We are called upon once again to join forces, together with our partners, in the face of threats to the rule of law, to stability, and to peace,” he said.

Marcos and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in September last year signed an agreement elevating the relations between the Philippines and Australia from comprehensive to strategic partnership which affirmed the two countries’ shared interests in regional prosperity and peace.

Australia is one of the Philippines’ only two strategic partners with which it has a Visiting Forces Agreement. The other strategic partner of the Philippines is the United States.

The President said Australia must remain steadfast in its commitment to Asia and the Indo-Pacific community.

Marcos said the protection of the South China Sea as a critical global artery is crucial to the preservation of regional and global peace.

“We have long known that our prosperity and development are anchored on the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific. Today, that peace, that stability, and our continued success, have come under threat. Once again, we must come together as partners to face the common challenges confronting the region. Not one single country can do this by itself. No single force alone can counter them by themselves,” he added.

China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea. The Philippines is claiming parts of it, like Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. China has been getting aggressive in its claim.

It has been harassing Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

Marcos and Albanese expect enhanced information sharing, and more capability building and interoperability activities between the Philippines and Australia in terms of maritime domain, maritime environment, and cyber and critical technology following the signing of agreements between the two nations yesterday.

Under the maritime agreement, the Philippines and Australia are expected to strengthen the civil military cooperation, promote international law and rules-based international order, safeguard the marine environment and cultural heritage, enhance defense engagements, and establish avenues for dialogue among relevant agencies of the two countries.

“Defense and security remain a key area of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia. We look forward to amplifying our joint activities and capacity-building efforts in this regard,” the President said in a joint press conference with Albanese after their bilateral meeting.

Marcos is set to return to Australia next week to attend the March 4 to 6 Association of Southeast Asian Nation-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne.

During Marcos’ address, Sen. Janet Rice raised a placard saying “Stop the human rights abuses.”

On X, Rice said “Under President Marcos Jr, corruption in the Philippines is getting worse.

There are hundreds of political prisoners and ‘anti-terrorism’ laws are used as legal cover for extrajudicial killings. Yet the Australian Government invited him to address the Parliament today. Shame.”

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Sen. Jordon Steele-John, also on X, said he opted to join protesters outside the parliament while the President was giving his speech.

“While President Marcos Jr gave a speech to the parliament today, I was proud to protest in solidarity with the Australian-Filipino community outside parliament! Stop the human rights abuses!” Steele-John said in his X account which included photos of protesters from the Australian branches of militant groups Bayan and Gabriela.

The protesters carried streamers and placards that said: “No to Charter Change”; “Honor the Victims, not the Criminals”; Marcos, Not Welcome”; “Dictator’s sons are not welcome”; “Marcos Sr. Marcos Jr., Walang Pinga-iba, Parehong Tuta, Diktador, Pasista.”

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