Kuala lumpur: Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Tuesday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for expressing concern over China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea during the summit meeting between United States President Donald Trump and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

According to Philippines News Agency, Rodriguez stated that President Marcos’s statements before the US and ASEAN leaders reflect his strong defense of the Philippines’ economic and security interests in the contested waters. Rodriguez emphasized that the President’s proactive stance deserves the support of all Filipinos and urged the national leadership, including the Cabinet, to back the President’s efforts in defending national interests in the West Philippine Sea.

During the summit, President Marcos raised the issue of China establishing a ‘nature reserve’ around Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos located approximately 120 miles off Pangasinan and Zambales. Marcos highlighted concerns regarding incidents in the West Philippine Sea that have endangered Philippine personnel and jeopardized the safety of vessels and aircraft.

Marcos criticized the attempts to establish the ‘nature reserve’ status over Bajo de Masinloc, asserting that it violates Philippine sovereignty and the traditional fishing rights of Filipinos. He reiterated that these rights are supported by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award, and the Philippines’ domestic law.