Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue remains firm and unchanged, maintaining that 'what is ours is ours,' Malaca±ang said on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that Marcos' WPS policy is significantly different from the approach of his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who was hesitant to confront China over its claims in the WPS. Castro explained during the Radyo Pilipinas' Prangkahan Na! Program that during Duterte's term, conflict was avoided by agreeing with China, but Marcos is determined to defend the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea, particularly within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Castro expressed concern that Duterte's approach allowed China to exert control over Philippine waters, including areas like Sandy Cay, where Chinese vessels were frequently seen during the past administration. She questioned the country's independence and sovereignty, criticizing Duterte's perceived willingness to make the Philippines a province of China. Castro highlighted that Duterte even halted construction projects on Sandy Cay due to China's strong opposition.
She emphasized that President Marcos is resolute in defending the Philippines' sovereign rights over the WPS. Castro reiterated that the Philippines is not a province of China, despite Duterte's alleged intentions, and supported Marcos' stance to demand the removal of China's claims over Philippine maritime rights.
Additionally, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) addressed and refuted recent claims by China over Palawan Island, which circulated on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo. A post on the Rednote app falsely asserted that Palawan was once a Chinese territory named 'Zheng He Island.' The NHCP clarified that exploration does not imply sovereign ownership and emphasized that there is no evidence of a permanent Chinese settlement in Palawan, which has been continuously inhabited for 50,000 years according to archaeological data.
