(GMA NEWS) Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Monday expressed hope that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will gather support from leaders from allied countries in Southeast Asia amid the recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).advertisement
This as the President heads for Indonesia this afternoon to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit set on September 5 to 7.
“I hope that he talks with the other ASEAN leaders, the other presidents of other nations like Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand to gather our allies and to help us with regard to the incursion of the Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea,” the lawmaker said in an ANC interview.
Estrada is the chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification, and reconciliation.
“Kailangan natin siguro i-consolidate ang ating mga kakampi, ang ating mga kaalyado sa ating mga kalapit bansa dito sa ASEAN,” he added.
(Maybe we need to consolidate our allies in our neighboring countries here in ASEAN.)
TIMELINE: Chinese water cannons, illegal maneuvers vs. Philippine resupply mission
China also recently published a new map that has a ten-dash line, placing nearly the entire South China Sea within its national boundaries. This 2023 edition map of China was rejected by the Philippines.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Marcos will have several bilateral meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit.
DFA said the summit will serve as a platform for leaders to exchange views on key regional and international issues, build consensus on matters of mutual interest, and provide policy direction for the ASEAN community in the years to come.—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News