NEW YORK, USA — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he would prefer any approach that will work in resolving the South China Sea maritime dispute.

Marcos said this after stating that China is claiming a territory that belongs to the Philippines.

In an interview with reporters here in New York City, the President said he wants to try every method possible just to resolve the issue.

"I will prefer any approach that will work. Subukan natin lahat. Try everything. We'll have to try everything," he said.

"Kung minsan hindi mo ma-expect kung saan talaga lalabas yung opportunity. So kailangan subukan natin lahat (We never know when opportunity will come. So we need to try everything)," he added.

In his speech at the Asia Society on Friday afternoon, September 23 (New York time), President Marcos said the Philippines' ties with the US could contribute to keeping tensions in the Asia-Pacific Region at bay.

"The position that the Philippines takes is that we have no territorial conflict with China. What we have China claiming territory that belongs to the Philippines," he said.

Despite this, Marcos said that the Philippines would continue to work with parties involved to resolve the matter peacefully.

"We will continue to work with China and other claimant states with an end in view of resolving the issues involving the West Philippine Sea through diplomacy and dialogue," he said.

The Philippines, China, Brunei, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam all have claims in the South China Sea.