West Philippine Sea ‘is ours and will remain ours,’ says President

President Marcos said there is no external force that can carve out the West Philippine Sea from the Philippines.

“The West Philippine Sea is not a figment of our imagination. It is ours, and it will remain ours as long as the spirit of our beloved country burns brightly,” he said in his State of the Nation Address yesterday.

“The Philippines cannot yield. The Philippines cannot waver…We have faced challenges to our territorial sovereignty, we will assert our rights and interests in the same fair and pacific way that we have always done. Proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under the rules-based international order remain the only acceptable means of settling disputes,” the commander-in-chief added.

The President underscored the important role the country’s maritime forces play in securing the country’s ocean borders.

“To our Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea… please accept the heartfelt gratitude of the entire nation for your vigilance and sacrifices,” he said.

1 Pacman party-list Rep. Mikee Romero, chairman of the House committee on poverty alleviation, said the President’s stand on the West Philippine Sea is “solid and unequivocal.”

“He deserved our standing ovation. We salute our commander-in-chief for defending the Philippines’ territory and for taking care of our PCG and AFP personnel protecting our maritime integrity,” lawmaker said.

For his part, Senate President Francis Escudero vowed that the Upper Chamber will prioritize passing laws akin to the Maritime Zone and Sea Lanes Act.

This crucial measure has already cleared the bicameral conference committee and is now awaiting the President’s signature, he said.

“We will strengthen our military, not to ignite any conflict, but in order to secure peace,” Escudero said.

“We will take peaceful measures to defend our people’s right to sail in our seas and fish in our waters—as what our ancestors had done, and what our children shall do,” he added.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea with its so-called 10-dash line that stretches more than 1,500 km. off its mainland and encroaches on the respective exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

An international arbitral ruling in 2016 has dismissed the line as having no legal basis.

Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “SONA 2024: Marcos says ‘West Philippine Sea’ is not a figment of imagination; vows to defend it.”