MELBOURNE, Australia. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged regional solidarity against what he described as China’s aggression in the South China Sea during a speech delivered on Monday at the Lowy Institute international policy think tank in Melbourne, Australia.
Highlighting the persistent challenges posed by Chinese activities in the South China Sea, Marcos emphasized the necessity for the Philippines to defend its territory against what he termed as “provocative, unilateral, and illegal actions” by Beijing.
“It is unfortunate that despite the clarity provided by international law, provocative, unilateral, and illegal actions continue to infringe upon our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, and jurisdictions,” Marcos stated firmly, reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity.
The South China Sea has been a hotspot of contention, with China claiming sovereignty over most of its territory, conflicting with claims from several neighboring nations including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.
In response to Marcos’ assertions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accused the Philippines of provocation in the South China Sea, claiming that China’s actions were in accordance with its laws to safeguard sovereignty and interests in the region.
Earlier on Monday, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo echoed Marcos’ sentiments, urging regional neighbors to unite more strongly in upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea. He emphasized the importance of adhering to international law and opposing actions inconsistent with it.
“The shared stewardship of the seas and oceans in the region behooves us to unite in preserving the primacy of international law,” Manalo emphasized, calling for solidarity against actions contrary to established legal norms.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong supported Manalo’s stance, highlighting the need for ASEAN member states to protect agreed-upon rules, uphold international law, and prevent conflict in the region.
“We know that a major conflict in our region would be devastating to our communities and economies,” Wong stated, drawing parallels with conflicts in other parts of the world.
Wong announced Australia’s commitment of 40 million Australian dollars ($26 million) to enhance maritime partnerships in the region, emphasizing both security and prosperity objectives.
The renewed focus on maritime security comes after Australia and the Philippines conducted joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea for the first time in November. However, tensions persist, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi indicating in December that China would maintain military pressure on the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
