MANILA. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued directives to bolster the country’s maritime security efforts in response to escalating tensions, particularly in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
In an order signed on Monday and disclosed on Sunday, President Marcos instructed his government to enhance coordination on maritime security, citing “serious challenges” to territorial integrity and peace. While not explicitly naming China, the move follows a series of maritime confrontations and disputes in the South China Sea.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not provide immediate comment in response to Reuters’ request for clarification on Sunday.
The South China Sea, a vital route for global commerce valued at over $3 trillion annually, is claimed almost entirely by China. However, these claims overlap with those of several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s claims lacked legal basis.
Recent tensions peaked when China utilized water cannon to disrupt a Philippine resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal, where Filipino soldiers guard a warship intentionally grounded on a reef 25 years ago.
President Marcos emphasized the ongoing challenges faced by the Philippines in safeguarding its territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of its citizens in maritime areas.
The president pledged to implement countermeasures against what he termed as “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks” by China’s coastguard.
In response to the escalating tensions, President Marcos has expanded and reorganized the government’s maritime council. The revamped National Maritime Council now includes additional key officials, such as the national security adviser, solicitor general, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency chief, and the South China Sea task force.
Moreover, the order underscores an expanded role for the military in maritime affairs, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines named among the agencies supporting the council.
The National Maritime Council, with its expanded membership, will serve as the central body responsible for formulating strategies to ensure a unified and coordinated approach to the Philippines’ maritime security and domain awareness.
President Marcos has also augmented the number of agencies supporting the council, now totaling 13, to include institutions such as the space agency and the University of the Philippines’ Institute for Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea.
