The Philippine Coast Guard installed additional buoys in West Philippine Sea to serve as guide and sovereign markers in WPS.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been rallying the support of the country’s allies in its conflict with China in the West Philippine Sea, House Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II, who chairs the House Special Committee on WPS, said Sunday.
“He has been raising this issue in his meeting with leaders of the nations he has visited, including Australia last month and last week, and Vietnam in January,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales said the President is upholding the country’s territorial and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which is part of the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
“He is keeping up international pressure on Beijing, so the Chinese would back off their aggressive activities inside our territorial waters, including Ayungin Shoal off Palawan in the south and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) near Zambales and Pangasinan in the north, which China seized in 2012,” he said.
The President visited Canberra last month, followed by a trip to Melbourne last week.
During the Chief Executive’s visits to Australia, Gonzales said the President called on his host country to join forces with other allies to counter threats to rule of law, stability and peace in the region.
The President secured Australia’s commitment for a renewed partnership with the Philippines, a clear indication of the strengthened strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.
The two countries agreed to strengthen their joint maritime activities, which aim not only to preserve peace but to protect Filipino fishermen, he said.
The President also addressed the Australian Parliament, where he highlighted the strong maritime partnership of the two countries in South China Sea and in the West Philippine Sea in particular.
He signed three agreements in his Canberra trip, covering maritime domain, cyber and critical technology, and effective implementation of competition laws and policies.
The President likewise emphasized the importance of a mutually-beneficial economic relationship and people-to-people ties.
In Melbourne, the Chief Executive attended the ASEAN-Australia special summit, where he stressed the importing of the meeting of the region’s leaders in resolving regional issues on peace and stability, and on trade and prosperity.
He met with business leaders and delivered a foreign policy speech at the Lowry Institute.
He also met with the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Cambodia and exchanged views on matters affecting their respective countries and the region.
In Vietnam in January, the President reiterated his commitment to defend Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippines Sea and to protect Filipino fishermen.
During his visit, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on “Incident and Management in the South China Sea.”
Like the Philippines, Vietnam is in a conflict with China over some islets.
