NEW YORK, USA — The Philippines is ready to take a constructive role in ushering in the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said.
Marcos said this as he campaigns for the Philippines' candidature for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the term of 2027 to 2028.
In his speech at the Asia Society forum here in New York City, the President recognized that peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region are linked to the situation in the Korean Peninsula, thus volunteering to help resolve the matter.
"We are ready to play a constructive role in advancing a peaceful and denuclearized Korean Peninsula through confidence-building measures amongst the various stakeholders," he said on Friday afternoon, September 23 (New York time).
Aside from the war in the Korean Peninsula, Marcos cited the soaring tensions in Taiwan and called on concerned parties to practice maximum restraint in addressing the issue.
"We are certainly concerned about rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, just north of the Philippines," he said.
"We urge all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint. Dialogue and diplomacy must prevail," he added.
President Marcos also touched on the ongoing war in Ukraine, urging all parties to continue adopting peaceful means to maintain international peace and security.
He added that the Philippines has voted in favor of the three UN General Assembly Resolutions on Ukraine.
Peace mechanisms
According to President Marcos, the Philippines will continue to work toward strengthening the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly its dialogue partnerships with neighbors that uphold regional peace and security.
He likewise welcomed the renewed engagement of the Quad, along with the recent establishment of the AUKUS.
Quad, or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States maintained by talks between member countries.
Meanwhile, the AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
"We will continue to work toward strengthening ASEAN, particularly its dialogue partnerships with neighbors that uphold regional peace and security," he said.
"These mechanisms should help prevent destabilizing actions in the region that go against international law," he added.
Peace and security took center stage in Marcos' historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 20, where he reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to the fundamental principles of the United Nations of preserving peace, security, and stability among nations.