Marcos Sounds Alarm on Common Threat in SONA

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used his 5th State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2023, to declare that Filipinos do not yield to foreign threats, delivering his longest foreign policy speech days after maritime confrontations in the West Philippine Sea, according to the official transcript.

Marcos Defends Filipino Dignity Amid Maritime Tensions

Speaking before legislators and the diplomatic corps, Marcos stated that the nation’s collective consciousness faces unprecedented challenges from an unnamed common threat, according to the official transcript.

“Our unity and collective consciousness are challenged now greater than ever before. A common threat lies before us, directed against our dignity and self-respect as a people,” Marcos said during his 5th State of the Nation Address. The remarks followed weeks after a China state-run publication released a video depicting Filipinos as monkeys while criticizing the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Upholding the 2016 Arbitral Award Through Peaceful Means

Following his remarks on national dignity, Marcos explicitly mentioned the 2016 Arbitral Award during its 10th-year anniversary window. According to the president, the landmark ruling serves as a definitive benchmark for interpreting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a decision that China refuses to accept.

“This is not a claim that we advance alone, nor one that we will abandon,” Marcos stated. He vowed that his administration will utilize every peaceful and legal means available to uphold the award against any foreign or domestic attempts to undermine it. This address marked the lengthiest geopolitical segment delivered during a State of the Nation Address by the current administration, which has prioritized external defense since the release of the National Security Policy in 2023.

Frontliners Praised as Bilateral Tensions Persist

Marcos paid direct tribute to the nation’s maritime frontliners, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and local fisherfolk, for giving life to the Arbitral Award. These commendations coincided with heightened bilateral tensions as Manila hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations diplomats for regional meetings.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping with the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. While Marcos has publicly expressed a desire to reset bilateral ties with Beijing, recurring confrontations at Ayungin Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc continue to test diplomatic efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did President Marcos say in his 5th SONA regarding foreign threats?

President Marcos declared that Filipinos do not yield to threats, stating, “We are Filipinos, and we do not yield,” following recent maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

What was the context behind the President’s remarks on human dignity?

The remarks came weeks after a China state-run publication released a video depicting Filipinos as monkeys while criticizing the 2016 Arbitral Award.

Does China recognize the 2016 Arbitral Award?

No, China refuses to accept the landmark decision, which handed the Philippines a sweeping victory under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.