President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the Philippines will continue to cooperate with China but will be compelled to push back its partnership when the principle of the two countries is questioned or ignored amid tensions in the South China Sea.

“We pursue with the People’s Republic of China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation founded on mutual respect and mutual benefit,” President Marcos said in his speech at the Lowy Institute Peace and Resilient Amidst Great Power Rivalries: The Philippine Perspective in Melbourne, Australia.

The President, however, said he will “push back ties” if the country’s sworn principles are questioned or ignored.

“Our independent foreign policy compels us to cooperate with them on matters where our interests align, to respectfully disagree on areas where our view differ, and to push back when our sworn principles, such as our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and our jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea – are questioned or ignored,” he said.

Marcos said the interest of the Philippines in the context of the South China Sea issue will remain.

The President said at present, the Chinese government continues to ignore the universal and unified character of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and in the final and binding determinations of the South China Sea Arbitration Award of 2016.

“It is unfortunate that despite the clarity provided by international law, provocative, unilateral, and illegal actions continue to infringe upon our sovereignty, our sovereign rights, our jurisdictions,” he said.

Marcos said “this pattern of aggression” by China obstructs the path towards ASEAN’s vision of the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, and of prosperity.

“As a country committed to the cause of peace and the peaceful settlement of disputes, the Philippines continues to tread the path of dialogue and diplomacy despite these serious difficulties,” he added.

Marcos said the Philippines’ adherence to the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea remains, and the country is committed to working with ASEAN and China towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) “that finds its moorings in UNCLOS and respects the interest of all stakeholders, including Australia.”

The President said the Philippines shall never surrender even one square inch of its territory and maritime jurisdiction, and will resist provocative, unilateral and unlawful actions to change the status quo.

Defending PH territory

During the question-and-answer session at the Lowy Institute, Marcos said his sworn duty is to defend the country’s territory and sovereignty.

“I took an oath and in that oath I— the oath is to support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. And the first article of our Constitution is the definition of our territory, maritime and otherwise,” he said.

“And it has been recognized as sovereign territory of the Philippines. And therefore, it was not— in my view, when I came into office, we simply have no choice, we must defend the territory of the republic. And that is a primordial duty of a leader,” he added.

Marcos said the Philippines will not allow a unilateral decision made by some foreign capital to somehow amend, or to change the definition of the country’s territory.

He promised to do whatever it takes to maintain that situation and make it very clear that the Philippines’ territorial integrity cannot be threatened, “and if threats are made, then we must defend against of threats.”

“It wasn’t a matter of policy choice, it is the duty that I took on when I came into office and that’s — I continue to see it that way and I think that every Filipino sees it that way,” the President said.

“And they depend and they expect their leaders to fulfill that duty. To be true to their oath, to defend the republic and its territory, and its people,” he added.

Upgrading Coast Guard capabilities

The President said the Philippines will continue to upgrade the capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and pursue the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid the tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“And earlier this year, I approved the updated acquisition plan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines called Re-Horizon 3, in line with our Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept,” he said.

Marcos said Philippine forces must be able to guarantee, to the fullest extent possible, Filipinos, Philippine corporations and those authorized by the Philippine government, unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources in areas where we have jurisdiction, including within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with international law.

The President assured that agencies, forces and institutions are working to strengthen their capabilities, adding the country is on the frontline of international efforts to preserve, defend and uphold the rules-based international order. (PNA)

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