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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos: Indo-Pacific countries must stay neutral amid US-China rivalry

Marcos: Indo-Pacific countries must stay neutral amid US-China rivalry

Published May 31, 2024 11:06 pm

At A Glance

  • Marcos said the global community must adhere to the rules-based international order governed by international law and informed by equity and justice principles.

President Marcos said that while the United States of America (USA) and China are vital to regional peace and economic evolution, Indo-Pacific countries must stay neutral amid the power play between the two world leaders.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)

Marcos said this as he delivered the keynote address for the 21st edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday evening, May 31.

In his speech, the President said nations in the Indo-Pacific must reject attempts to deny their strategic agencies, especially by forces that seek to subordinate the former’s interests to those of the latter.

He said China’s determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of the region is permanent. At the same time, the stabilizing presence of America is crucial to regional peace.

However, President Marcos said the global community must adhere to the rules-based international order governed by international law and informed by equity and justice principles.

“It is never a choice. Both countries are important,” he said.

“The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage that rivalry in a responsible manner,” he added.

Meanwhile, the President cited the world’s previous achievements in maintaining a free and open multilateral order such as the United Nations (UN) founding document in San Francisco and the declarations in Bangkok and Manila.

“The past inspires the needed clarity and foresight to confront the challenges of the present and to build the future to which we all aspire. From the achievements of San Francisco, Bangkok, [and] Manila,” President Marcos said.

Marcos likewise enumerated three constants that should guide the region in resolving challenges: The sovereign equality of states must remain sacrosanct; ASEAN and ASEAN-led processes must remain central, yet purposive and effective; and the rule of law and the integrity of multilateral institutions must prevail.

He said these constants must guide the efforts to prepare the region for the challenges ahead,  reiterating that the misguided interpretations painting the area as a mere theater of geopolitical rivalries should be rejected.

“We are not mere bystanders to unfolding world events. We are the actors that drive those events. We are the main characters in our collective story. We are the owners of the narratives of our regional community,” President Marcos said.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos Indo-Pacific Region President Marcos Shangri-La Dialogue
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