Amid escalating Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez declared that the Philippines will defend its sovereign rights through international law and global democratic solidarity.
Speaking at the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) in Madrid, Spain on Thursday (Manila time), Romualdez reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims and upheld the Philippines’ rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“Let me be clear: the Philippines remains steadfast in protecting our rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea by upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” Romualdez said.
“We categorically reject attempts to undermine our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction through coercion or disinformation,” he added.
Romualdez’s remarks follow a series of hostile actions by the China Coast Guard (CCG), including the recent use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel conducting research in Sandy Cay, near Pag-asa Island. Similar actions have been reported near Ayungin Shoal and Sabina Shoal, drawing widespread condemnation.
“These are not isolated incidents. This is not just a regional issue. It is a global test of whether the rule of law will prevail over brute force,” Romualdez emphasized.
He assured that the Philippines will not yield to unlawful intimidation or foreign narratives.
“Our approach is anchored on legal clarity, diplomatic dialogue, leveraging partnerships, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We will not allow foreign narratives to distort the truth on the ground. Nor will we permit coercive actions to dictate our national destiny,” Romualdez said.
Calling for international solidarity, Romualdez urged democratic nations to unite against gray-zone tactics, cyber-enabled propaganda, and the erosion of maritime law and order. He warned of wider risks posed by unchecked technology, misinformation, and hybrid threats to global stability.
The PI-SF, hosted by the Spanish Senate and chaired by former U.S. Congressman Robert Pittenger, gathered delegates from over 40 countries to coordinate global security efforts. Romualdez’s speech reinforced the Philippines’ role as a leading advocate for international law and Indo-Pacific peace.
“Let us move forward—united in purpose, resolute in action, and inspired by our common vision of peace, stability, and global cooperation,” Romualdez concluded.