MELBOhilippineURNE, Australia. During his address to Australia’s Parliament on Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. underscored the critical nature of the strategic partnership between the two countries, particularly in light of escalating tensions in the region due to China’s actions in the South China Sea. Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ staunch defense of its sovereignty against any foreign encroachment, emphasizing the significance of collaboration between nations in countering common threats to regional stability and the rule of law.
Highlighting historical bonds, Marcos referenced joint wartime experiences, including the tour of the Philippines’ WWII battlefields of Bataan and Corregidor by his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, and then-Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1974. He also pointed to recent collaborative efforts such as joint sea and air patrols conducted for the first time in November last year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed Marcos’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of peace for prosperity and the shared responsibility in maintaining regional stability. However, Marcos’s speech was briefly interrupted by Senator Janet Rice’s protest against human rights abuses in the Philippines, leading to her symbolic censure by fellow senators. Despite this interruption, Marcos and Albanese announced new agreements on maritime cooperation, cybersecurity, and fair trade regulation, signaling continued collaboration between the two nations.
Marcos’s visit, which spans two days and ends on Thursday, sets the stage for his return next week for an ASEAN-Australia Summit commemorating 50 years of partnership with Southeast Asian nations, further solidifying ties between the Philippines and Australia in the face of regional challenges.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
