Marcos: West PH Sea will remain ours

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stood his ground that the West Philippine Sea (WPS) belongs to the Filipinos amid China's aggressions in the resource-rich region.

''Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin. Ito ay mananatiling atin, hangga’t nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas,'' Marcos said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the audience at the Batasang Pambansa complex who stood up and applauded.

He added the country "cannot yield, cannot waiver" in protecting its sovereignty. 

''We are continuing to strengthen our defense posture, both through developing self-reliance and through partnerships with like-minded states,'' he added.

The President thanked the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the fisherfolks in the region for protecting and monitoring the region.

''Sa ating buong Sandatahang Lakas, sa Coast Guard, at sa ating mga mangingisda sa West Philippine Sea, ...tanggapin ninyo ang taos-pusong pasasalamat ng buong bansa, dahil sa inyong ginagawang pagmamatyag at sakripisyo,'' he added.

Unlike his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, Marcos didn't appear very warm when it comes to his relations with China.

He made a commitment that Filipinos would never yield their territory, noting that his administration would protect its sovereign rights even “to the last square millimeter.”
 
Recently, the Philippines and China have reached an understanding on an arrangement that aims to avoid altercations at the disputed Ayungin Shoal, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

"The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China have reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation  (RoRe) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal," the DFA said in a statement.

The Philippines won a landmark case against China’s massive claim in the South China Sea. On July 16, 2016, an arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, invalidated China’s indisputable and historical claims, however, Beijing does not recognize the ruling.

China has since continued its hostile actions in the resource-rich region, with actions involving shadowing and ramming of Filipino vessels and the dangerous water cannon incidents that hurt local servicemen.—LDF, GMA Integrated News