Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has firmly denied suggestions that his position on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) was toned down in his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), insisting that the Philippines remains resolute in defending its sovereignty and territorial rights.
In an interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost, Marcos reiterated that asserting the country’s claims in the West Philippine Sea and maintaining friendly relations with other nations are not contradictory.“The two things are not mutually exclusive,” the president said.
“You can defend your sovereignty. You can defend your territory. You can modernize your military, and at the same time, you can continue to be a friend to all and an enemy of none… So that there is no misunderstanding, let me say it again: the Philippines will not cede one square inch of our territory. We will not give up the exercise of our sovereign rights — ever. I hope that’s clear,” he added.
Critics and observers had noted the absence of a strong, explicit mention of maritime tensions with China during the SONA, raising questions about whether the administration was softening its rhetoric. But the president said the position is consistent.
PH-US alliance under Trump
Marcos also said the Philippines’ long-standing military alliance with the United States will remain intact under President Donald Trump.
“I am [confident] because the assurances we’ve been receiving from the new administration — before I went there, when I went there, and since that visit — have been very, very strong,” Marcos said, citing support from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other senior officials.The president recalled that the phrase “ironclad,” now regularly used to describe US defense commitments to the Philippines, was originally coined by Trump during his first term.
