South China Sea: Marcos says Philippines will not cede ‘one square inch’ of territory

“I will not allow any attempt by any foreign power to take even one square inch of our sovereign territory,” Marcos said in the address.

“The challenges that we face may be formidable, but equally formidable is our resolve. We will not yield.”

The South China Sea is a conduit for more than US$3 trillion worth of ship-borne commerce each year, and is a major source of tension between the Philippines and China.

Protecting the area is important to global stability, Marcos said on Thursday.

“The protection of the South China Sea as a vital, critical global artery is crucial to the preservation of regional peace and, I dare say, of global peace,” he said. “We have an abiding interest in keeping our seas free and open, and in ensuring unimpeded passage and freedom of navigation.”

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Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint

The Philippines and other countries – backed by the United States – have argued the waterway should be free and open.

China has rapidly grown its naval forces in recent years, and snatched vast tracts of maritime territory, hoping to project its military and political power well beyond the country’s shores.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse