The House of Representatives is committed to support the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept of the administration amid increasingly aggressive actions by China in the West Philippine Sea, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
“The House of Representatives stands firmly behind President Marcos’ vision for a comprehensive archipelagic defense strategy. This is not merely a matter of policy but a solemn duty to uphold the integrity of our nation and the rights of our people,” Romualdez said on Saturday.
In his keynote address at the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies-Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore Friday night, President Marcos said the Philippines will build its capabilities to protect its maritime domain interest, citing the country’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.
Romualdez emphasized the importance of a robust and unified defense strategy to protect the country’s sovereignty and maritime resources.
“We in the House are prepared to pass the necessary legislation and allocate resources that will fortify our archipelagic defense and ensure that our armed forces are well-equipped to meet any challenges. This is a collective effort that requires the full support of all branches of government,” he said.
He said the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept is aligned with international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award that recognized the Philippines’ maritime rights and invalidated China’s massive maritime claims in the South China Sea.
“In an era where the security landscape is rapidly evolving, it is imperative that we build a defense framework capable of addressing both traditional and non-traditional security threats. Our archipelagic nature demands a defense strategy that can effectively cover our extensive maritime domain,” Romualdez added.
Romualdez expressed optimism that the keynote address of the President would galvanize international community support for the Philippines’ vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Asia-Pacific.
“The President delivered a clear, compelling and rational articulation of our country’s legal and geopolitical position, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. As such, I expect more members of the international community to join the growing chorus calling for observance of the rule of law and diplomacy for dispute resolution,” he said.
Prof. Renato De Castro of the Department of International Studies at the De La Salle University described the speech as “very strong.”
“It’s firm. It is characterized but subtlety and of course sophistication. The fact he mentioned the elephant in the room without mentioning the name of that elephant, we have to give credit for the degree of sophistication on the speech of the President,” he said.
Fellow DLSU professpr Don McLain Gill said the speech was “very refreshing coming from a Southeast Asian leader who is able to rally behind him a number of states in the Indo-Pacific.”
