00:00In a speech earlier today before an international policy forum cooked up by the Observer's Research Foundation,
00:06the president stressed the Philippines is a nation of loss over a country of men and women.
00:12He dwelt on how the country painstakingly won its dispute in the 2016 Permanent Court Tribunal ruling
00:17and hailed his host for doing the same in its maritime disputes with smaller nations.
00:22As our Kenneth Paschente reports.
00:24In his appearance at a foreign policy forum in New Delhi, organized by the Observer Research Foundation,
00:32President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. once again underscored the Philippines' commitment to stand for the rule of law, sovereignty, and global peace.
00:40In his foreign policy address, the president laid out the Philippines' perspective on the deepening crisis in the Indo-Pacific region,
00:46a region he described as a center of opportunity but challenged by instability and coercion.
00:51He emphasized that it is not enough to stay silent or merely observe.
00:56According to him, it is necessary to actively defend the existing order and peace based on law, not on force or violence.
01:03It has thus become the responsibility for all stakeholders, including the Philippines and India,
01:10to play a more active role in upholding, in defending, and in preserving a rules-based order.
01:16President Marcos Jr. also stressed the importance of the 2016 Arbitral Award,
01:21a ruling that affirms the Philippines' rights but continues to be opposed and disregarded by some countries.
01:27The assertions of literal states have to pass the test of conformity with international law,
01:33particularly the UNCLOS, and definitive binding interpretations such as the 2016 Arbitral Award.
01:41The president stood firm against false narratives of the South China Sea that distort reality.
01:47Indeed, there are those who sometimes justify such provocations under the pretext of geopolitics.
01:53Just as disconcertingly, there are those who seek to discredit international legal procedures
01:59and dismiss binding rulings to cloak opaque claims with a semblance of legitimacy.
02:05President Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines is taking the right path to peace
02:08by strengthening relations with like-minded nations that respect international law,
02:13in response to the growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region,
02:17including China's continued coercion in the West Philippine Sea.
02:20We fight for peace. But that is exactly what we do.
02:23And since we have started to be confronted with that situation,
02:31that is the solution that we find will be most effective,
02:36and it's the proper thing to do, is to form these alliances,
02:42put together the coalition of like-minded states who share the same values,
02:48who adhere to international law, and who are committed to defending their territory
02:58and the exercise of their sovereign rights.
03:00In the same forum, the president highlighted the shared history of the Philippines and India
03:04as nations that fought against colonialism,
03:07and now both promote democracy, development, and fair international relations.
03:12Thus, President Marcos Jr. considers the establishment
03:15of the Philippines-India strategic partnership as a significant step,
03:19an agreement aimed at deepening cooperation in defense, maritime security, technology,
03:24economy, and the welfare of citizens.
03:26Under this partnership, the president recognized the key role of India as a trusted ally,
03:32one of that not only extends support, but also respects international law,
03:36even in its own maritime disputes.
03:38With our strategic partnership, we unfurl the sails
03:42and steer our hopes and dreams through challenging tides.
03:47Our vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific is our compass.
03:54Our commitment to international law is our balance.
03:58Kenneth Paciente from the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
