The Chinese incursion in the West Philippine Sea is an important issue that should be discussed during the 2028 national elections, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Saturday.
During the Saturday News Forum, Teodoro said the Philippines faces a lot of challenges and it needs all its marine resources.
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“Ang kalaban natin dito ay paligoy-ligoy, ‘teka’ attitude, at panahon… On that score, napaka-importante ng leadership at ngayon, pumihit tayo sa napakatatag na adhikain sa West Philippine Sea,” he said.
The defense chief noted that other neighboring countries also struggle with China’s encroachment in the South China Sea.
For his part, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said the issue of the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea should be a main highlight during the elections.
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“I think itong issue ng China vis-a-vis ang ating territorial interest, dapat maging central po ito sa diskusyon kung sino po man ‘yung may balak na maging leader ng ating bansa,” he said in the same forum.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Manila has sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, invalidating Beijing’s sweeping nine-dash line in the South China Sea.