Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech during the navy’s capability demonstration aboard the Philippine navy ship BRP Davao del Sur, a Tarlac-class landing platform dock, off Zambales, facing the South China Sea on May 19, 2023. (Photo by ALI VICOY / POOL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The protection of the South China Sea is not just for regional stability, but for global security as well, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his address to the Australian parliament on Thursday.
Marcos reiterated his earlier declaration that the Philippines will not lose a square inch of territory.
“We remain firm in defending our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, our jurisdiction. I shall never tire of repeating the declaration that I made from the first day I took office: I will not allow any attempt, by any foreign power, to take even one square inch of our sovereign territory. The challenges we face may be formidable, but equally formidable, is our resolve. We will not yield,” said Marcos in his speech.
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“Just as we fought to build our rules based, international order, so are we now fighting to protect it. The protection of the south china sea is a vital, critical global artery is crucial for preservation of regional peace and I dare say, of global peace,” added Marcos.
Marcos said that peace in the region is under threat, and that the Philippines is on the frontlines of maintaining order.
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“Today, that peace, that stability, and our continues success, have come under threat. Once again, we must come together as partners to face to common challenges confronting the region,” said Marcos.