Marcos urges states to heed international rulings, rule of law

A few days after his brief handshake with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit in Korea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ unwavering stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and declared that the country’s actions will continue to be guided by international law, particularly the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Our adherence to and advancement of international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, will continue to be the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea,” the President said in his keynote address read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the ongoing Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea.

Marcos also called on nations to comply with legally binding rulings and respect advisory opinions that provide clarity in international disputes.

“We also call on States to comply with decisions rendered through its compulsory dispute settlement mechanisms and respect the advisory opinions that provide legal clarity,” he said.

The President stressed that while the Philippines will keep communication lines open with China and other ASEAN claimant states to promote peace and cooperation, Manila will not hesitate to object when necessary.

“Keeping lines of communication open with China and other ASEAN claimant states maximizes bilateral and regional mechanisms, ensuring our continuous peaceful relations. Our diplomacy will continue to firmly protest and disagree where it is right, but also to cooperate and communicate where it is practical and beneficial for the country.”

Marcos reiterated that peace, stability, and the rule of law must never be optional in the region especially amid the rising tensions in the South China Sea.

“We gather once more with conviction that peace, stability and the rule of law must never just be an option in our maritime region, but rather these must always prevail. The South China Sea gives life to the Indo-Pacific region.”

Addressing ambassadors and officials from the United States, Japan, France, Canada, the European Union, and other nations, the President, through Bersamin, underscored that the 2016 Arbitral Award brought legal clarity and finality to longstanding maritime disputes.

“The 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award brought legal clarity and finality to longstanding issues in our maritime region,” Marcos said.

“It reaffirmed that peace and justice can only prevail when the rule of law, as embodied in UNCLOS, guides the conduct of nations,” he added.

He also acknowledged that maritime challenges continue to evolve with technology and modern tactics, but reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment committed to addressing these through peaceful means.

“Yet we understand that the concerns we face in this modern age continually and rapidly evolve. Technology and tactics have become more complex, even as transparency and accountability have come to the fore. To this end, the Philippines relies on several peaceful, dynamic approaches to address these challenges,” the President said.

He warned that while trillions of dollars in global trade pass through the South China Sea vital to regional economies, the area is “threatened by illegal activities, excessive claims, overexploitation, and environmental degradation.”

Marcos also commended the country’s maritime forces for their dedication to protecting Philippine waters.

“The brave and skilled men and women of our Armed Forces, Coast Guard, Maritime Police, BFAR, and other essential services are better equipped, better prepared, and better capable to fulfill their duties and take on the challenges that may lie ahead,” he said.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea through its 10-dash line claim, including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

However, the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling at The Hague invalidated China’s sweeping claims and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.

Four ASEAN members – the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei – have overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea.

In 2026, the Philippines will chair the regional bloc – positioning Manila to play a key diplomatic role in regional stability and adherence to international law. — JMA, GMA Integrated News