Marcos eyes Czech help to modernize AFP amid WPS issues

PRAGUE—President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is hoping that the Czech Republic will help the Philippines in modernizing its military amid issues in the West Philippine Sea.

Marcos made the remark in his joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel when asked about defense cooperation between the two countries.  

''We have based our discussions to the fact that the Czech Republic and the Philippines share the same values when it comes to the adherence to international law, that is something that, again, we find as a commonality between our two countries,'' Marcos said.

Marcos said that the AFP is undergoing a modernization program that entails a "great deal of procurement that needs to be done to modernize our forces and our capabilities."

"The Czech Republic has always been an important part of that development, of that evolution,'' Marcos said.

''And we our hoping that that would continue, not only at the present level but at the higher level,'' he added.

Marcos said he took up the West Philippine Sea situation with the Czech president. 

"I underscored that the Philippine position on the South China Sea remains consistent, clear, and firmly anchored in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),'' Marcos said.

Marcos told Pavel that while it is unfortunate that there are persistent incidents of aggression and harassment in the area, the Philippines continue to engage all its neighbors and stakeholders through diplomacy and dialogue.

Pavel said the Czech Republic fully supported the Philippines as regards securing global and regional stability. He said stability in the region would also affect the flow of goods in Europe.

''To us, South China Sea may seem to be far, far away but if you take into account the percentage or share of world or global trade that passes through this area, any disruption on these routes would have an adverse impact on Europe," Pavel said through a translator.

He said the impact could not only be in the form of shortage of goods but also soaring prices, "which is why we have to pay attention to this topic."

Marcos thanked Pavel for the Czech Republic’s support as a like-minded partner, in upholding peace, stability, and the rules-based international order.

He said the state visit affirmed the Philippines’ commitment to further cultivate its bonds and friendship with the Czech Republic and cementing the enduring ties between the two countries and its citizens. —NB, GMA Integrated News