Pasay city: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday emphasized that the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS) must never become a zone of conflict but rather a 'sea of peace, cooperation, and connectivity.'
According to Philippines News Agency, during a diplomatic reception he hosted for the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award favoring the Philippines' case against China, Marcos called on all stakeholders - governments, diplomats, and citizens - to build upon the legacy of the SCS ruling and uphold the rule of law as the foundation for peace and stability.
"We hold a simple but unwavering conviction. The South China Sea must never be an arena of conflict," he said in a speech delivered at the Conrad Manila in Pasay City. "It must remain a sea of peace, cooperation and connectivity, a body of water that sustains livelihoods, fosters trade, protects marine biodiversity, and unites rather than divides our nations," Marcos added.
The President said lasting peace can only be achieved when it is anchored on justice, mutual respect, and the sovereign equality of all nations. He said the Philippines' decision to pursue arbitration over a decade ago was guided by a 'timeless, universal' principle that disputes among nations must be resolved not through coercion, threat, or use of force, but through peaceful means and the rule of law.
Marcos recalled that the Philippines chose dialogue over confrontation, law over intimidation, and peace over conflict when it initiated the arbitration proceedings in 2013, which later resulted in the landmark 2016 ruling. "We did so because we possessed an unwavering faith in a rules-based international order. For the rule of law is a great equalizer of all nations. It ensures that right is not defined by might, that justice is never dictated by the relative size of a nation's territory, military or economic power," Marcos said.
Marcos stressed that the significance of the 2016 ruling goes beyond legal principles and maritime claims because it directly affects the lives of Filipino communities. He added that the Philippines remains committed to the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea while continuing constructive engagement with other countries.
