President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Malacañang)

House Deputy Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City lone district Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales II said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has been gathering support from the country’s allies amid its continuing dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“He is keeping up international pressure on Beijing, so the Chinese would back off their aggressive activities inside our territorial waters,” Gonzales said in a statement on Sunday, March 10.

“He has been raising this issue in his meeting with leaders of the nations he has visited, including Australia last month and last week, and Vietnam in January,” he added.

Gonzales, who chairs the House Special Committee on WPS, said China has long intruded into Ayungin Shoal located west of Palawan, and Bajo de Masinloc near Zambales and Pangasinan. 

Despite China’s continued aggression in the disputed waters, the ranking solon expects the tide will turn with President Marcos’ persistent upholding of the country’s territorial and sovereign rights in the WPS.

In a historic address before the Australian Parliament, Marcos declared that he would “not allow any attempt by any foreign power to take even one square inch” of the Philippines’ sovereign territory.

The President also underscored the “strong maritime partnership” between the two countries, which aims “not only to preserve peace but to protect Filipino fishermen”.

For Gonzales, this is a clear indication of Marcos’ commitment to join forces with allies to counter threats to the rule of law, stability, and peace in the region.

Meanwhile, during Marcos’ trip to Vietnam last January, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on “Incident and Management in the South China Sea”. 

Like the Philippines, Vietnam is also in conflict with China over island and maritime claims.

President Marcos is set to fly on a working visit to Germany and the Czech Republic from March 11 to 15. The WPS issue is expected to be part of his agenda.