MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. defended the Philippines from accusations that it is destroying the peace in the Indo–Pacific and deviating from the real concept of centrality in ASEAN.
During a question and answer session of the 21st IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a participant blamed the actions of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) which allegedly ruined peace in the region.
In response, President Marcos said it’s quite the contrary because the Philippines is committed to genuine peace and ASEAN centrality.
“I cannot imagine what you must be referring to, if the reference or the allusion is to the Philippines somehow tearing apart what we have agreed on in terms of ASEAN Centrality – quite the contrary,” the President replied.
“I think if you examine more closely the remarks that I have just made, I precisely focused on ASEAN Centrality, and that the principles that are laid down, that are involved in the concept of ASEAN Centrality are something that we must use to guide us,” he explained.
“And if there have been distractions in the recent past, it’s time to return and to remember the core principles of ASEAN’s establishment aimed at advocating the common interests of nations and partnerships at the multilateral level,” he added.
He stressed the Philippines remains true to the principles upon which ASEAN was born, he noted.
“Many of these things no longer speak of today but we must because they are as relevant today as they ever were, perhaps even more so because the global situation is a great deal, more complicated than it used to be,” said President Marcos.
“I would even go far as to say, there is no such thing as a regional issue any longer. We have all experienced the unexpected effects of the war in Ukraine, of the conflict in the Middle East,” he said.
The Philippine leader also underscored the importance of the South China Sea to global trade and economy, being the passageway for half of the world’s trade.
Thus, peace and stability of the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the waterway are world issues, he pointed out, adding discussions must involve all parties.
“Because now, it is not just ASEAN member-states or stakeholders, and it is quite easy to see that it is in fact the entire world that have become stakeholders in the peace and stability of our region,” he said.
President Marcos delivered his keynote address at the opening of the 21st IISS Shangri-La Dialogue attended by more than 500 participants from various countries. (PND)
