MANILA - During a press conference on Tuesday, Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong called for public backing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s strong defense of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
According to Philippines News Agency, the recent hostile actions by China's coast guard against two Philippine vessels underscore the necessity of supporting President Marcos's opposition to Chinese claims in the region. He emphasized that the President's policy aims to defend, not to encroach upon, the territory of any country. Adiong highlighted that China's extensive territorial claims over almost the entire South China Sea conflict with the Philippines' rights within its exclusive economic zone, as defined by international law.
The lawmaker also pointed out the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague's ruling, which invalidates China's historical claims over the area, supporting the legitimacy of the Philippines' stance under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal. Adiong criticized the aggressive strategies of China, describing them as acts of a bully, and asserted that the Philippine response should not be defeatist but one of firm resistance.
This steadfast approach, Adiong argued, is justified and has international backing, further noting that President Marcos's leadership on this issue contributed to his inclusion in Time Magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people.