Australian think tank says Marcos one of most watched leaders in Southeast Asia

MELBOURNE, Australia - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is one of the closely watched leaders in Southeast Asia, an official from an Australian think tank said Monday. 

"In the period since his election in 2022, President Marcos has emerged as one of the most interesting, influential, closely watched leaders in Southeast Asia," Lowly Institute executive director Dr. Michael Fullilove said at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.

"If there’s anyone who thinks individuals don’t matter in politics, I’d invite them to look at the changes in the Philippines in the past 18 months, in particular the way that Manila has become so much more determined to defend its sovereignty," the Australian think tank leader stressed.

Marcos made an address before the Lowy Institute where he committed to push back against China if the Philippines' sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea will be ignored. 

The Lowy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan international policy think tank that provides research and perspectives on the international trends shaping Australia and the world.

 Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles recognized how strong the Philippine economy has remained under the Marcos administration despite global crises facing world economies.

"Emerging from the pandemic, a key focus for President Marcos has been his economy, and they are very proactive on that. As we began this year, inflation was reducing, and in terms of economic growth, there was no stronger economy than the Philippines in Southeast Asia," Marles said.

He also recognized Marcos' initiative to lead the Department of Agriculture during the start of his presidency.

"Unusually, but very significantly, he swore himself in as the first Agriculture Secretary of his own presidential administration," Marles said.

"Agriculture has been central to President Marcos' political mission, going back to his days as the Governor of Ilocos Norte in the 90s, when he was able to see that province become self-sufficient in rice production," he added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News