CANBERRA — Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the critical roles of the United States and China in ensuring strategic stability and curbing the spread of nuclear weapons, during his address at the Lowy Institute in Australia on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the escalation of nuclear armaments in the Indo-Pacific necessitates urgent dialogue on disarmament, highlighting the historical impact of nuclear weaponry on the region's people, including the hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and victims of Pacific nuclear tests.
Marcos stressed the importance of bringing Indo-Pacific concerns to the forefront of global nuclear disarmament discussions. He advocated for constructive talks between China and the United States to prevent further nuclear armament and to promote strategic equilibrium. The President pointed out the leading roles of the Philippines, Australia, and Japan in regional efforts to mitigate nuclear threats, underlining the responsibility of major powers to manage their strategic rivalry conscientiously.
Furthermore, Marcos called upon the Indo-Pacific community to ensure that global dynamics do not devolve into a battleground for the competition between great powers. He argued that the strategic ambitions of these powers should not compromise the well-being of smaller states, regional peace, or international stability. The President's remarks underscored the broader challenges facing humanity, including technological upheavals, climate change, and enduring social and economic disparities, alongside the issue of great power rivalries.