Timor-Leste takes Philippines’ side in West Philippine Sea row, says Marcos

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Timor Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta shake hands before the start of their bilateral meeting at Malacañang in Manila on November 10, 2023. (INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo)

MANILA, Philippines — Timor-Leste supports Philippines’ position in West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Friday.

He earlier met with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta in Malacañang, where the two leaders discussed areas of cooperation.

“I’m very happy to report that beyond the formalities of these exchanges, President Horta and I had a very productive and interesting discussion on the mechanisms and the modalities that we — with the experience of His Excellency in international affairs, the many suggestions and mechanisms that he brought to light that can be of use to the Philippines when it comes to the challenges that we are presently facing in the issues that are regarding the South China Sea or, as we refer to it, the West Philippine Sea,” Marcos said in a press briefing.

“That is why it is with gratitude that we also have received the expressions of support from the President for the Philippines in terms of the rules – our adherence to a rules-based international law, to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he added.

In turn, Marcos also reaffirmed Philippines’ backing of Timor-Leste in its bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“Allow me, therefore, to reaffirm the Philippines’ unwavering commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s nation-building and development, including through capacity-building activities within the context of South-South cooperation,” Marcos said during a state banquet that followed after the press conference.

According to the website of United Nations (UN), ‘South-South Cooperation’ is technical cooperation between countries in the southern hemisphere.

“It is a tool used by the states, international organizations, academics, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate and share knowledge, skills, and successful initiatives in specific areas such as agricultural development, human rights, urbanization, health, climate change, etcetera,” stated UN.