South China Sea dispute to be tackled during Marcos’ visits to Indonesia, Singapore - DFA

The South China Sea dispute will be a subject of discussion when President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. visits Indonesia and Singapore next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

Marcos will be in Indonesia from September 4 to 6 and Singapore from September 6 to 7 to hold separate meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on bilateral relations and other matters.

"[T]here will be discussions on key regional discussions of mutual interests, including the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea issues, cognizant that all three countries actually have the common goal of maintaining peace and stability and preventing incidents in this particular part of the world," DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said at a virtual press briefing.

"They will also talk about other important geopolitical developments, so they will discuss them, and beyond that, there will be other regional and global developments that will also be discussed," she added.

The Philippines and China are locked in a territorial dispute over parts of the South China Sea, including what Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and other energy resources.

Indonesia and Singapore do not have territorial claims in the South China Sea.

China has continued its activities in the region as it refuses to honor the 2016 arbitral ruling upholding Manila's exclusive economic zone and invalidating Beijing's massive claim in the area.

Marcos earlier described China as the Philippines' "strongest partner," even as he swore to protect national sovereignty by speaking to Beijing "with a firm voice."—VBL, GMA News