A Philippine President on foreign soil and facing the international media and public intellectuals cannot dodge the responsibility of clarifying the nation’s policy on the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the bigger South China Sea (SCS).
Addressing the Asia Society, President Marcos Jr. said the Philippines has no territorial dispute with China — it is China that is claiming Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos also said the country’s relationship with the US is vital to the West Philippine Sea issue.
‘The best approach, of course, is diplomacy and dialogue as President Marcos said, for all these countries in this part of the world are peace-loving and concerned mostly in recovering economically from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.’
Playing it safe while upholding national pride (“I will not allow any process that will abandon even a square inch of Philippine territory to any foreign power”), President Marcos said he is willing to explore all options in handling of territorial and maritime issues with China in the South China Sea as long as they will work. Peace and national interest will continue to be the guideposts of this administration in handling the SCS issue.
Marcos also said he will continue to work with parties involved in the matter to resolve it peacefully. “We will continue to work with China and other claimant states with an end in view of resolving the issues involving the West Philippine Sea through diplomacy and dialogue,” he stressed.
“I will prefer any approach that will work. Let’s try everything, we’ll have to try everything,” the President said.
The Philippines, China, Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam all have claims to areas in the South China Sea. The best approach, of course, is diplomacy and dialogue as President Marcos said, for all these countries in this part of the world are peace-loving and concerned mostly in recovering economically from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To this end, pushing for an expedited negotiation of the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea (COC) among member-countries of the Asean and China is the right road to take.
