Marcos: We don’t yield on South China Sea award

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to continue upholding the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea through peaceful and legal means, while slamming what he described as derogatory depictions of Filipinos by "detractors." He emphasized the nobility, kindness, and dignity of Filipinos, declaring, "We do not yield." The President's remarks appeared to be a direct response to Chinese state media's portrayal of Filipinos as monkeys in criticizing the arbitral ruling. This comes days after a Philippine Navy personnel stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal was reportedly injured by a Chinese Coast Guard personnel. Marcos stated that the Arbitral Award serves as a "definitive benchmark" for the interpretation and application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), emphasizing that it is a shared achievement not just for the Philippines but for the international community. He pledged that the government would do all that is necessary to continue upholding the award, utilizing every peaceful and legal means available against any attempt, foreign or domestic, to undermine this achievement. Furthermore, the President expressed gratitude to the Armed Forces, the Coast Guard, and Filipino fisherfolk who continue to patrol and ply the seas in the face of great risks, stating that they give life to the letter and spirit of the Arbitral Award. Separately, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed a vessel and air asset to assist in the search and rescue for 17 missing crew of a Vietnamese cargo vessel, the Khoi Nguyen 18, which reportedly sank near Kagitingan Reef in the West Philippine Sea. Out of 62 crew members, 45 have been rescued, and the search for the remaining is ongoing. The PCG is coordinating with the Vietnamese Coast Guard for operational information. Information Source: Philstar Nation