President Marcos says Philippines ‘will not lose an inch’ of territory

MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Saturday that the country “will not lose an inch” of its territory.

his remarks follow the continuation of maritime affairs Tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.

In his speech at a military alumni repatriation event, Marcos said, “The country has seen rising geopolitical tensions that do not fit our ideals of peace and threaten national, regional and global security and stability. rice field.

“This country will not lose an inch of its territory. We will continue to maintain our territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with our constitution and international law. I will secure it.”

The Beijing embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China’s foreign ministry said the coast guard acted in accordance with the law.

On Tuesday, Marcos summoned a Chinese envoy to express “serious concern” about Beijing’s “increased frequency and intensity of actions” against the Philippine Coast Guard and Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea.

The Philippines’ foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the Manila Coast Guard aimed a “military laser” at one of the ships whose Chinese counterparts were supporting a supply mission to the military, temporarily blinding the crew on the bridge. After reporting, I filed a diplomatic protest.

China’s latest action comes just a month after Marcos’ state visit to Beijing.

They have fueled a long-running territorial dispute over the South China Sea.

China claims most of the strategic waterways through which about US$3 trillion (SGD4 trillion) of ship trade is traversed annually.

Beijing’s claims were annulled by an international tribunal in The Hague in 2016. Reuters