Philippines won’t surrender even a square inch of territory —Marcos

The Philippines will not give up any part of its territory, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. told members of the Asia Society in New York on Saturday morning (Philippine time).

In his speech during a meeting with the Asia Society, Marcos said, “I will not preside over any process that will abandon even a square inch of the territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power.”

The Philippines, along with China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

“We will continue to work with China and other claimant states with the end in view of solving the issues involving the West Philippine Sea through diplomacy and through dialogue,” the President said.

Marcos banked on the Philippines’ ties with the United States to keep peace and order in the disputed waters.

“We know that we can count on the United States to uphold the international law-based order, freedom of navigation and overflight, and the sustainable use and development of maritime resources.

"But equally important, we look to the United States to promote peace, security, and prosperity,” he said.

During his six-day working visit in the United States, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Marcos and his American counterpart US President Joe Biden had their first face-to-face talk wherein both leaders underscored support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. 

The Philippines scored a victory against China in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands in 2016. The arbitration court declared Beijing’s claim over nearly the entire South China Sea as illegal.

Meanwhile, a group of Filipinos staged a lightning protest at the Asia Society headquarters in New York before Marcos gave his speech.

Young activists mount a lightning protest action against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who is set to speak before the Asia Society in New York City. | via @ivanmayrinapic.twitter.com/e17tmoWwhe

— GMA News (@gmanews) September 23, 2022

 —KG, GMA News