Members of the Philippine Navy plant the Philippine flag on one of four sandbars rising from the sea within the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island, part of the Kalayaan municipality in the West Philippine Sea. (MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)
NEW YORK CITY, United States — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on Friday said is willing to explore all options in the handling of territorial and maritime issues with China in the West Philippine Sea / South China Sea as long as they will work.
Marcos maintained his stance that he will not allow any process that will “abandon even a square inch” of Philippine territory to any foreign power.
He added that the country’s main principle behind its foreign policy is “peace and national interest.”
“I will prefer any approach that will work. Subukan natin lahat. [Let’s] try everything, we’ll have to try everything,” the President said.
“Kung saan tayo makalusot, eh ‘di maganda. Pero kung minsan hindi mo ma-expect kung saan talaga lalabas ‘yung ano eh ‘yung opportunity. So kailangan subukan natin lahat. Baka dito lumitaw, baka diyan, baka diyan. So subukan natin lahat,” Marcos added.
(Whatever will work, will work. But there are times that we don’t expect when the opportunity will arise. So we have to try everything to know which ones will work.)
Addressing the Asia Society, Marcos earlier said the Philippines has no territorial dispute with China – it is China that is claiming Philippine territory in the South China Sea.
He also said the country’s relationship with the US is vital to the West Philippine Sea issue.
Marcos also said he will continue to work with parties involved in the matter to resolve it peacefully.
“We will continue to work with China and other claimant states with an end in view of resolving the issues involving the West Philippine Sea through diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.
The Philippines, China, Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam all have claims to areas in the South China Sea.