Philippines has shown it won't give up territory, says Marcos

Even with a relatively small force compared to "those encountered in the West Philippine Sea," the Philippines has shown it would not give up any portion of its territory, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

In his talk before Western Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Palawan, Marcos congratulated the troops for "holding the line."

"In comparison doon sa mga ibang nakakatagpo natin doon sa West Philippine Sea ay kahit na maliit lang ang naihaharap natin na puwersa ay maganda naman ang nagiging resulta," Marcos said during the Talk to Troops in Western Command Lawak Gymnasium in Palawan.

"Dahil kahit papaano ay nagagawa natin na nagiging maliwanag, hindi lamang sa Pilipinas, kung hindi sa buong mundo na tayo ay di tayo papayag na kukunin sa atin ang teritoryo ng Pilipinas. So keep up the good work," he added.

(Even though our forces are small compared to those whom we have faced in the West Philippine Sea, we have produced good results because we've been able to show not just in the Philippines but to the rest of the world that we will not allow other nations to claim our territory. So keep up the good work.)

"Congratulations for the achievements that you have made already in terms of holding the line," Marcos said.

His remarks also came a day after China's publication of its new official “standard” map showing extended claims in the South China Sea.

In early August, the Chinese coast guard used water cannons on a Philippine resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal, where the Philippines keeps an outpost with the aground BRP Sierra Madre.

The incident kept the mission from getting completed with only one of two boats reaching the rundown Navy ship.

The action of the Chinese coast guard was protested diplomatically by the Philippines and drew criticisms from the US, Australia, and Japan.

The Philippnes in mid-August sent another resupply mission which the Chinese tried to block and subjected to radio challenges. The resupply boats, however, reached the BRP Sierra Madre.

China said it allowed humanitarian missions but added that the problem arose when the Philippines carried construction materials.

The Philippine side said it didn't need to ask permission from China as regards what it planned to do in its exclusive economic zone.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 to uphold the EEZ of the Philippines under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

The arbitral award invalidated China's massive historical claims in the South China Sea. 

China has said it didn't recognize the arbitral ruling.

Marcos emphasized that the Wescom's efforts have been effective in maintaining peace and security in the region.

"The Western Command is playing their very, very important part in keeping the peace. That is the most important part of all of these is to keep the peace. And equally important is to defend the sovereign territory of the Republic of the Philippines," Marcos said. 

Meanwhile, Marcos also promised that his administration would continue providing support to the military, especially when it comes to modernization. —NB, GMA Integrated News