President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed the critical need for regional stability on Friday during a gathering commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Philippines’ landmark 2016 arbitral victory regarding the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking before diplomats and government officials at Conrad Manila in Pasay City, the President called for the South China Sea to be treated as a space for harmony rather than a battleground for global power plays.
“We hold a simple, but unwavering conviction. The South China Sea must never be an arena of conflict,” Marcos stated.
Emphasizing the vital role the maritime area plays in international commerce and ecology, the President added:
“It must remain a sea of peace, cooperation and connectivity, a body of water that sustains livelihoods, fosters trade, protects marine biodiversity, and unites rather than divides our nations.”
Marcos explained that lasting stability in the region depends on fairness, mutual respect, and the uniform enforcement of justice.
He recalled that the nation’s choice to seek international arbitration ten years ago stemmed from a deep-seated belief in a global system regulated by clear guidelines.
“We did so because we possessed an unwavering faith in a rules-based international order. For the rule of law is a great equalizer of all nations,” he remarked.
The President concluded by emphasizing that staying true to international law protects smaller countries from being overshadowed by global superpowers.
“It ensures that right is not defined by might, that justice is never dictated by the relative size of a nation’s territory, military or economic power.”