President Bongbong Marcos appears to be keen on sustaining his predecessor’s policy towards China in connection with the West Philippine Sea, Department of National Defense Officer-in-Charge Jose Faustino, Jr. said on Thursday, July 21.

Former president Duterte pushed and maintained a friendly stance with China in the past six years and Faustino revealed that Marcos has not yet given specific instruction to change such policy until now.

“During the time of President Duterte, we saw the collaboration with China in opening up other avenues of cooperation in the West Philippine Sea and I think it’s the same policy of the President (Marcos) when it comes to our foreign policy. So basically the same, we are for peaceful resolution of the conflict,” said Faustino.

“What we want is a rules-based international order in these areas and we support that, and I think both, those administration and this administration would have the same policy direction,” he added.

Faustino said Marcos even wants to strengthen military alliance with China.

This, despite the repeated harassments of Philippine troops in the West Philippine Sea, including Philippine vessels that are delivering supplies to soldiers stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

“So, more on economic and he even mentioned about the possibility of a military to military exchange with China,” said Faustino.

Faustino, however, said the Philippines will continue to conduct maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, citing the United Nations ruling which invalidated the Nine-Dash line argument of China in claiming almost the entire South China Sea.

He said the Philippines is in a better position to conduct sea patrols compared to the past with the procurement of modern vessels, that also includes that of the Philippine Coast Guard.

“We have the assets to do that although limited at the moment but we continue to modernize and to acquire more assets so we could conduct more patrols and you know maritime domain awareness,” said Faustino.