Marcos on WPS dispute: They can’t cover our eyes and pretend nothing happened

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. —PPA POOL

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines cannot close its eyes to what is happening in the West Philippine Sea, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.

According to a statement released on Thursday night, Marcos met with newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya in Malacañan Palace. During the meeting, Marcos said that the situation in the disputed waters could not be ignored.

READ: Japan commits to reinforcing Philippines’ maritime defense power

“When it comes to foreign policy and that we analyze geopolitics, this is the most important thing that we must find a way to keep it at peace. That is what the Philippines will always work for,” Marcos told Kazuya.

“However, we also have to respond to the actual situation on the ground. They cannot cover our eyes and pretend that nothing happened,” he said.

Marcos said that Japan’s assistance to the Philippines now includes security and defense.

In November 2023, Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio addressed the Philippine Congress and assured them of Japan’s support to bolstering the country’s defense capabilities to maintain a free Indo-Pacific.

The President reiterated that the goal was to keep the South China Sea an area where there is freedom of navigation.

“That’s all we wish for and so we are happy that once we try to do that we have you as part of it,” Marcos said.

Tensions in the West Philippine Sea have escalated after the Chinese Coast Guard’s repeated attacks on Filipino crewmen since Marcos assumed the presidency. A water cannon attack from China’s end left three Filipinos injured during a routine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.