Ambassador of Australia Steven James Robinson believes that President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will have a “measured and balanced” approach to the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a press conference following Robinson’s courtesy call to Marcos, reporters asked Robinson if he and Marcos discussed China’s expansion into Philippine maritime territories.

“I think the President [-elect] is gonna take a very measured and balanced approach in terms of how he approaches all of these issues to seek the best outcome he can for the Philippines and I think any pragmatic politician would do exactly the same: try and work out how to get the best for your country in difficult circumstances and that’s what I’m anticipating,” he told reporters on Friday, June 17.

He then reiterated Australia’s support for the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling– commonly referred to as the Hague ruling–in favor of the Philippines, which nullified China’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea.

“We touched upon the situation in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea and I reiterated our commitment to the Philippines in supporting the outcome of the arbitral award and supporting the Philippines as it goes forward in dealing with difficult regional issues,” he said.

Marcos himself backed the 2016 Hague ruling during an interview last May and vowed to protect the sanctity of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Nasa atin na yung arbitral ruling (We already have the arbitral ruling). So of course we will…we have a very important ruling in our favor and we will use it to continue to assert our territorial rights. It’s not a claim, it is already our territorial right. And that is what (sic) the arbitral ruling can help us,” Marcos said on May 26.

Aside from the Australian envoy, Marcos met with ambassadors from Bangladesh, Nigeria, New Zealand, and Poland on June 17.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Seth Cabanban

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