VANCOUVER, Canada — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) admitted that he is "worried" about a possible shift in policy in the West Philippine Sea after his term ends in 2028, saying that consistency is crucial in defending the country's sovereign rights and territorial integrity.
In a media interview, Marcos stressed the importance of upholding the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines against China regarding long-standing maritime disputes.
He said the arbitral award remains central to the Philippines’ foreign policy and is reinforced by continued support from partners such as Canada, which recognizes it as an affirmation of international law and the country’s sovereign rights.
"If you’re asking me if I’m worried that the policy of the Philippines will change after I leave office, of course I am. Because it’s almost an existential issue for us," Marcos said.
The President said that while ordinary Filipinos may not view the issue in such terms, it carries enormous significance for the country.
Marcos also said no issue confronting a Philippine president is more important than protecting the country's sovereignty and sovereign rights.
"I think the rightness in our positioning, in terms of the way we position the Philippines in our foreign policy, vis-à-vis the arbitral agreement, arbitral award is validated by countries like Canada who support it and see it as simply an enforcement of international law and the defense of our territorial integrity and the exercise of our sovereign rights within our sovereign territory," Marcos said.
The remarks came after Marcos and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed their support for the rule of law in the South China Sea and the continued implementation of the 2016 Arbitral Award during their bilateral meeting in Vancouver.
Canada was among the countries that openly reiterated support for the landmark ruling during the President's visit, with Marcos thanking Ottawa for being a "vocal and consistent" supporter of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The July 12, 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China's sweeping nine-dash line claim over nearly the entire South China Sea and affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
Beijing, however, has consistently rejected the ruling, insisting that the award is "null and void." This year marks the 10th anniversary of the arbitral award.
The Philippines has in recent years deepened security cooperation with countries that have publicly backed the arbitral ruling, including the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and Canada.
