New delhi: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued a warning to the international community regarding the dangers of false equivalence in maritime disputes, emphasizing that not all claims in the South China Sea are legitimate or equal. He called for the rejection of disinformation and unilateral actions that violate international law.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a foreign policy speech delivered at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on Wednesday, Marcos criticized powerful nations for eroding the global order by disregarding international laws, undermining rules-based norms, and disguising aggressive actions under the guise of geopolitics. He highlighted the complex nature of the South China Sea disputes, stating that the issue has been oversimplified over the years. ‘The complex issue of competing claims in the South China Sea has, for years, been unfortunately and simplistically reduced to ‘the South China Sea disputes,’ as if claims were all equal. They are not,’ Marcos said. He stressed that the assertions of littoral states must conform to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and definitive interpretations like the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Marcos also praised India as a ‘responsible major power,’ noting its compliance with international tribunal rulings on maritime disputes. This stands in contrast to China, which has rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims over the South China Sea. He stated, ‘For a country with rapidly growing power and influence, India has submitted to the judgment of international tribunals on matters concerning maritime disputes-a model for how a responsible major power and a good neighbor should behave.’
The President expressed concern about the immense pressure on global governance from strategic competition, coercive actions, and institutional fatigue. He warned that some founding defenders of the post-war order have ‘turned inward,’ while others exploit this shift to ‘cloak opaque claims with a semblance of legitimacy.’ Marcos’ remarks come amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed in multiple confrontations.
During his state visit to New Delhi, Marcos and India formally elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, marking only the fifth such accord for Manila. He lauded India for possessing the ‘strategic trust, common cause, and responsible behavior’ that the Philippines seeks in deepening ties, calling the partnership a product of ‘great deliberation.’
Marcos also called for reforms in global institutions and more assertive leadership by emerging middle powers to protect multilateralism from paralysis. He urged democracies to work together to safeguard the global commons and uphold laws amid intensifying great power competition. On Thursday, President Marcos is scheduled to travel to Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, to engage in economic discussions and meet with industry leaders.
