‘We hope, however, that the President’s emphatic words, which obviously mean that we will stand firm on the South China Sea maritime issue, will be fleshed out with genuine
action when the need arises.’
THE 1,300 officials and guests at President Bongbong Marcos’ first State of the Nation Address (SONA) applauded more than 80 times in the course of the 70-minute speech, but the loudest applause was heard when Marcos talked about his strong position on Philippine territory.
The President said, “I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power.”
While this is a motherhood statement, the audience at the Batasang Pambansa and the rest of the nation listening through radio, television and the internet that Monday afternoon can only relate this to the current territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.
President Marcos Jr, who is the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy, continued where his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte left off, affirming that “the Philippines is a friend to all.”
He said: “With respect to our place in the community of nations, the Philippines shall continue to be a friend to all, an enemy to none. The Philippines has always been open and welcoming to all our foreign friends and visitors. That is our world view, and that is our culture.”
Marcos showed his bias for peaceful negotiation in the diplomatic front when he said, “If we agree, we will cooperate, and we will work together. And if we differ, let us talk some more until we develop a consensus. After all, that is the Filipino way. But we will not waver. We will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide.”
This friend-to-all policy served us well during the COVID-19 pandemic, as our friends like the United States, China and European nations helped us with vaccines, medicines and equipment to fight the disease.
We hope, however, that the President’s emphatic words, which obviously mean that we will stand firm on the South China Sea maritime issue, will be fleshed out with genuine action when the need arises.
