President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday reiterated that the Philippines won’t quit an inch of its territory.
“This country will not lose one inch of its territory. We will continue to uphold our territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with our Constitution and with international law. We will work with our neighbors to secure the safety and security of our peoples,” Marcos mentioned in his speech throughout the alumni homecoming on the Philippine Military Academy in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City.
Marcos’ feedback got here days after the Philippines protested China’s use of military-grade laser, together with harmful maneuvers, towards Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua whereas on a resupply mission for Filipino troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal on February 3.
The Ayungin Shoal space is properly throughout the Philippines’ unique financial zone below the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and upheld by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016.
In a diplomatic protest lodged by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila referred to as out China’s Coast Guard for its “latest aggressive activities” towards Philippine vessels, heightening tensions anew between the 2 Asian neighbors locked in years-long territorial disputes within the resource-rich waters.
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian nevertheless on Friday mentioned each the Philippine and Chinese sides ought to chorus from taking any provocative motion within the disputed waters. He additionally mentioned the China Coast Guard didn’t use army grade lasers.
“The country has seen heightened geopolitical tensions that do not conform to our ideals of peace and threaten the security and stability of the country, of the region, and of the world,” Marcos mentioned.
In September final yr, Marcos instructed members of the Asia Society in New York that the Philippines won’t quit any a part of its territory.
“We will continue to work with China and other claimant states with the end in view of solving the issues involving the West Philippine Sea through diplomacy and through dialogue,” the President then mentioned.
The Philippines, together with China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan have overlapping claims within the South China Sea.
Gratitude
Marcos in his speech additionally thanked the PMA alumni for his or her contributions and repair to the nation.
“I am filled with gratitude, as is the nation, for your contributions to the collective effort to build our beloved Philippines,” he mentioned.
The President then mentioned efforts to develop the nation will proceed to offer residents a greater future.
“In honor of those who have sacrificed their lives to build this path for us, we will continue to develop this country and aspire for better lives for our people,” he mentioned.
“In the past seven months, we have been working hard to steer the country to a high-growth trajectory. The current operating environment is uncertain and grows increasingly complex. As we continue to develop our internal resources, we must pursue a path of prosperity that contributes to goals shared with the international community,” Marcos mentioned.
“We have cemented our bilateral relations with our allies, with our partners, with our friends. And as we work on translating these investments into material benefits for our people, we must ensure that we continue to preserve the security and the safety of our nation,” he added.
Marcos additionally mentioned he hopes the PMA alumni will “continue to lead a life of service beyond self — an ethos we can attribute to a premiere institution such as the Philippine Military Academy.”
The President additionally congratulated the PMA awardees, amongst them Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, and former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista, for his or her “exemplary performance” of their respective duties. —KG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
