Marcos assures Pinoys in Germany: PH won't give up territory in West PH Sea

BERLIN, Germany - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday assured Filipinos in Germany that his administration would continue to assert the country's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

In his speech during his meeting with the Filipino community, Marcos emphasized that Germany has been supporting the Philippines when it comes to ensuring a secure and peaceful South China Sea.

''On our political and economic relations, Germany has also been a strong supporter of the Philippines in our quest to keep the waters in the South China Sea open, secure and peaceful. We both adhere to the rules-based order and seek the cooperation of all nations to abide by the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea o tinatawag na UNCLOS,'' Marcos said. 

''Dahil nagkaka problema po tayo sa ibang bansa na sinasabi, 'yung teritoryo ay kanila pala. Ngunit asahan ninyo ay hindi po tayo papayag dahil maliwanag na maliwanag naman, na ito ay bahagi ng Pilipinas,'' he added. 

Marcos is in Berlin for a working visit in which he thanked Germany for pushing for a rules-based international order amid tensions in the resource-rich region. 

The Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded in 2016 that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within its "nine-dash line."

Earlier, Marcos said the Philippines is not rejecting China's proposals to resolve issues in the South China Sea but is questioning its neighbor's premise based on its ten-dash-line map.

In Australia last week, Marcos said the Philippines would push back against China in case its sovereignty in the region will be ignored. — BAP, GMA Integrated News