House Speaker Martin Romualdez —
Photo from House of Representatives Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday vowed to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s initiatives to preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea amid rising tensions.
Romualdez made the statement after emphasizing the fruits of Marcos’ trip to Australia, particularly the three key agreements signed by the two countries.
READ: Marcos signs 3 deals with Australia on maritime environment, tech
One of such agreements was the enhanced interoperability in maritime domain and maritime environment.
“This agreement holds paramount importance, particularly in the face of escalating provocative actions by China in the South China Sea. By solidifying this pact, President Marcos has underscored our nation’s unwavering commitment to upholding maritime security and safeguarding the interests of all nations in the region,” Romualdez, who is part of the official Philippine delegation to the summit, said in a statement.
“President Marcos can count on the unwavering commitment of the House of Representatives in support of his initiatives to preserve peace and stability in the region and his courageous stance in defense of our country’s territory and sovereignty,” he added.
According to Romualdez, Marcos’ trip bolstered the strategic alliance between the Philippines and Australia, contributing significantly towards enhanced engagement between Australia and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states.
He then recognized Marcos’ efforts in promoting the country’s national interest by focusing on the observance of rules-based order and peaceful resolution of disputes amid escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“This reaffirmation underscores the importance of fostering robust partnerships in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges,” said Romualdez.
“At a time of escalating tensions and provocative actions by China, President Marcos’s call for adherence to a rules-based order and peaceful resolution of disputes is both timely and crucial. It reaffirms our nation’s commitment to promoting stability and security in the region through dialogue and cooperation,” he added.
All this came after the Chinese coast guard vessels fired a water cannon at Philippine vessels during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, shattering one of the vessels’ windshield which resulted in minor injuries to at least four crew members.
READ: 4 PH Navy crew hurt by China Coast Guard’s water cannon attack
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also reported that “reckless” and “illegal” actions of the Chinese Coast Guard led to a collision between a Chinese and Philippine ship, with the latter sustaining minor structural damage.
READ: PH and China coast guard ships collide in West Philippine Sea
Meanwhile, Romualdez also congratulated President Marcos for securing a total of $1.53 billion or P86 billion worth of investment from 12 business deals signed on the sidelines of the summit.
He also noted how the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which Marcos announced the Philippines signed during his plenary at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – Australia Summit, would open tremendous business opportunities for Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owners.