For repeatedly lamenting the establishment of a nature reserve in Bajo de Masinloc at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) level, President Marcos was able to take a "principled stand" and encouraged support towards the issue.

National Maritime Council (NMC) Spokesperson Alexander Lopez said this, stressing that the President raising the issue before ASEAN Member States and partners, including US and China, carries diplomatic, strategic and domestic implications.

"At mayroon ding diplomatic signaling sa ating mga (And there is also a diplomatic signaling to our) treaty allies and partners," Lopez said in an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

"The President sent a strong message with our dialogue partners like the US, Japan, Australia, that the Philippines is taking a principled stand for rules-based order and encouraging greater alignment and support towards our cause," Lopez added.

Marcos, during his participation in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which ended on Oct. 28, spoke up about the continuous aggressions in the South China Sea, endangering fishermen and Filipino personnel, and condemned the establishment of China's national nature reserve in Bajo de Masinloc, which is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales.

During the ASEAN-China Summit, Marcos made it clear that cooperation and coercion cannot co-exist, stressing that dangerous and illegal actions in the South China Sea "cannot hide under the veneer of marine environmental protection because it has no legal basis or effect, blatantly disregards international law, and infringes on the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction."

Lopez underscored that when it comes to the diplomatic and regional implications, the President’s message emphasizes the strengthening of ASEAN solidarity.

"Dahil ni-raise niya ito doon sa ASEAN level, iyong Pilipinas ay niri-reinforce niya iyong collective responsibility among Southeast Asian nations to uphold regional peace and stability (Because by raising it at the ASEAN level, the Philippines reinforces the collective responsibility among Southeast Asian nations to uphold regional peace and stability)," the NMC official said.

The President, Lopez said, categorically highlighted China's non-compliance, especially with the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling.

"Pagdating naman sa political and domestic implications ‘no, iyong pangungusap kung minsan ng ating Presidente ay sinasabi niya na that the President is asserting presidential leadership (When it comes to the political and domestic implications, the President’s statements sometimes indicate that he is asserting presidential leadership)," Lopez said.  

"Iyong move na ito ay pinu-project ng ating Presidente na he is decisive and a principled leader defending Philippine sovereignty at ito ay nagri-resonate strongly with our domestic public and towards strengthening national unity (This move projects the President as a decisive and principled leader who is defending Philippine sovereignty, and it strongly resonates with the public while helping strengthen national unity)," Lopez added.

The NMC spokesperson further said that the President's statement on the issue strengthens the work and mandate of concerned departments, such as the Coast Guard and the Department of National Defense, in crafting a coherent and assertive maritime policy toward effective maritime governance.

By condemning China’s aggression, Marcos also enhances public confidence that the government is on top of the situation and is pursuing a genuine and effective foreign policy direction, Lopez added.

"So, in short, we summarize this still it is a strategic diplomatic implication point. That the Philippines is a norm defender in the Indo-Pacific, it reframes the China issue that it is not only environmental, but also a rules-based issue and integrity concern and also, it must be his message, solidifying power or Manila’s leadership role in ASEAN’s maritime governance agenda," Lopez said.

"So napakaganda talaga iyong pagkondena ng ating Pangulo at ni-raise niya iyon doon sa lebel ng ASEAN (The President’s condemnation was truly commendable, and the fact that he raised it at the ASEAN level made it even more significant)," Lopez stressed.

Despite the approved project of China to establish a nature reserve in Bajo de Masinloc, Lopez called on Filipino fishermen to continue fishing in the area because by doing so, they are also asserting the Philippines sovereignty.

He reiterated that the Philippines will never cede even a square inch of its territory and the government will address any dispute through peaceful means and through diplomatic channels and mechanisms.

"So sa aking mga kababayan especially sa ating mga mangingisda, tuluy-tuloy po ang ating aktibidades sa West Philippine Sea (So to my fellow Filipinos, especially our fishermen, our activities in the West Philippine Sea continue)," Lopez declared.

"Nandoon po ang inyong gobyerno, patuloy po tayong magbibigay ng mga kaukulang suporta – gasolina, pagkain, tubig para iyong inyong livelihood ay tuluy-tuloy din at ating presensya ay mapanatili at hindi iyong presensiya ng Tsina ang maghari sa ating karagatan na tinagurian nating atin (Your government is there—we will keep providing the necessary support such as fuel, food, and water so that your livelihood can continue, and so we can maintain our presence, instead of allowing China’s presence to dominate our waters, which we rightfully call our own)," he added,