Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (4R), Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (5R), and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año (6R) jointly lead the Opening Ceremony of the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea on Wednesday, November 6, alongside foreign policy experts and international leaders. (Photo by: Jumalynne Doctolero/PIA-NCR)
QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The inaugural Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea convened foreign policy experts, academics, and maritime practitioners from Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region to discuss the establishment of a rules-based maritime order and to develop strategies for resolving territorial disputes.
In a speech delivered on his behalf at the opening ceremony, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored the Philippines’ commitment to upholding international law and maintaining a strategic presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Keeping with the hope of open dialogue, we will continually pursue broad public diplomacy and awareness efforts. We seek to empower our citizens to become ambassadors for our cause and foster a profound national consciousness of our interest in the West Philippine Sea,” said President Marcos.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has reaffirmed the commitment of the Philippines to international law as the country continues to maintain its principled path of peaceful assertion to resolve the maritime dispute in the WPS.
“The journey from a ruling to reality is long and requires not just vigilance but sustained action. The issues in the West Philippine Sea are complex, involving competing claims and pressures, our approach must remain anchored on international law,” said Romualdez in his keynote address, highlighting the importance of recognizing the power of alliances, diplomacy, and transparent communication.
“While we seek peace and dialogue, we must also be prepared to defend our interest, our people, and our environment. As Speaker of the House, I assure you that our legislative branch stands firmly behind our efforts to support our nation’s national security,” he added.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, for his part, cited the significance of the dialogue in reinforcing the lawful interest and rights of the Philippines in the South China Sea as it represents not only a vast area of natural wealth but a core component of national identity and sovereignty.
“The staging of this dialogue is not merely for a single state but for all nations who all share the progressive and principled vision for a world that is more just, peaceful, and prosperous,” Año stressed.
The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea aims to bring together experts in shaping policy discourse concerning the maritime security landscape in the Indo-Pacific region by developing collaborative strategies, innovative ideas, and recommendations that will facilitate regional consensus on territorial seas in accordance with international law.
“Advancing a rules-based maritime order is our focus in the next two days, and the reason is simple. Almost everyday, in the South China Sea, we are witnessing an alarming erosion of the rule of law. It’s so complex a problem that there seems to be no solution in sight. Doing something could be seen as escalatory, doing nothing could invite more aggression,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ordaniel, the lead convenor of the dialogue.
There are two treaties that will be anchored in the dialogue. These include the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which is a landmark treaty establishing a legal framework for the governance of the world’s oceans and seas as well as the promotion of their equitable use.
It is worth noting that all claimant states to the South China Sea dispute are parties to UNCLOS, including China.
The other treaty is the “Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes” which was adopted by the member states of the United Nations (UN) in 1982, demonstrating their commitment to solving disputes through legal and diplomatic processes.
The inaugural dialogue on the South China Sea was jointly organized by several non-governmental organizations and public sector institutions led by the We Protect our Seas (WPS) advocacy group in partnership with the West Philippine Sea Transparency Office, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard, Presidential Communications Office, and Philippine Information Agency, among others.
The dialogue will convene on November 6 to 8, 2024. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
