Philippine President: We Will Respond If China Ignores Our Maritime Rights

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Monday that the Philippines will work with China in discussions about the contested South China Sea, but will respond if its sovereignty and maritime rights are ignored. Speaking during an event while visiting Australia, Marcos expressed his commitment to collaborating with Southeast Asian countries and China to establish a long-awaited code of conduct for the South China Sea based on international law. He noted that "these efforts do not happen in a vacuum. Providing a conducive environment for effectively managing tensions is crucial for the success of the code of conduct negotiations," reaffirming that he will not cede any Philippine territory to a foreign power. Marcos stated that the alliance between the Philippines and the United States was formed "by our choice and we will continue to strengthen it by our choice." Tensions between the neighboring Philippines and China have escalated shortly after Marcos assumed office in 2022, with recurring disputes over islands and reefs in the South China Sea as Manila has developed closer defense ties with the United States.