IN a hard stance over the issue of the West Philippine Sea after talking to Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told the media of what he dubbed as “persistent, unlawful threats” in the West Philippine Sea.

Among them include the dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese Coast Guard in the country’s exclusive economic zone. 

Marcos made the remarks at the roundtable briefing at the Daniel K Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Hawaii.

He also talked on the challenge of securing the peace in the West Philippine Sea.

“Tensions in the West Philippine Sea are growing, with persistent unlawful threats and challenges against Philippine sovereign rights and jurisdiction over our exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, actions that violate obligations under international law,” he said. 

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Marcos Jr., noted that the regular routine and resupply missions at the Ayungin Shoal is still subjected to “coercive tactics and dangerous maneuvers” of the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea, “putting the lives of our people at risk and challenging the rule of law.”

He also said that there is a “rampant illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and militarization of reclaimed features in the South China Sea.”

Marcos noted that the country will continue to insist on the preservation of the sovereignty and integrity of the country. 

“I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the Philippines will not give a single square inch of our territory,” he said. 

Marcos made the remarks following his visit Sunday morning at the headquarters of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).