President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated before the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue that he will not give up a single inch of the nation’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), emphasizing its critical importance to the Filipino people.
“The life-giving waters of the West Philippine Sea flow in the blood of every Filipino,” President Marcos declared to the defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries, and military chiefs present at the dialogue in Singapore.
In his keynote address, President Marcos assured the participants that the Filipino people would not allow anyone to sever this vital part of their maritime domain. His statement, “We cannot allow anyone to detach it from the totality of the maritime domain that renders our nation whole,” was met with a warm round of applause.
“As President, I have sworn to this solemn commitment from the very first day that I took office. I do not intend to yield. Filipinos do not yield,” he affirmed.
President Marcos made history as the first Philippine president to deliver a keynote address at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, the premier defense and security conference in the Asia-Pacific region.
The dialogue provides an open, inclusive, and neutral platform for the exchange of perspectives and ideas on defense and security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. It is commonly attended by defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries, and military chiefs of mostly Asia-Pacific states.
Previous keynote speakers include Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in 2022 and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in 2023.
