Marcos: PH will continue to defend maritime territory

THE Philippines is not looking for trouble in the West Philippine Sea but it will continue to defend its maritime territory, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday, following the removal of a China-installed floating barrier near the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough) Shoal in a disputed part of the South China Sea.

In a call with President Macron, we discussed their ministers’ upcoming visit and thanked France for supporting peace in the West Philippine Sea.PHOTO From Official Bongbong Marcos FB page

Speaking to reporters in Filipino, the President insisted that China Coast Guard's installment of the barrier at the Panatag Shoal was not right as it is inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The President reiterated that the Philippines was not looking for trouble but stressed that the government would continue to “defend the country's maritime territory” and the “rights of the fishermen in areas where they have been fishing for hundreds of years.”