Philippine President Marcos Jr: We Will Strengthen Rights And Interests In A Peaceful Way

New Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Communications Office)

JAKARTA - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday the Philippines would not give in or falter over its position in the South China Sea, but would seek ways to reduce tensions in the disputed waters.

In a State Speech, President Marcos Jr said maritime disputes must be resolved through diplomatic channels under a rule-based international order.

"In facing challenges to our territorial sovereignty, we will assert our rights and interests in a just and peaceful manner as we always do," President Marcos Jr said.

President Marcos' remarks, which received a lively welcome from Congress, came after the Philippines said on Sunday it reached a "temporary agreement" on a resupply mission to disputed Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

Although neither China nor the Philippines provided details of the arrangement, Manila said on Monday it would "not reduce our respective national positions".

"In our desire to defuse the situation in the South China Sea to manage differences in a peaceful manner, we emphasize that the agreement was carried out in good faith and the Philippines remains ready to implement it," the Philippine State Department said in a statement.

"We urge China to do the same," he continued.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a "temporary agreement" with both parties agreeing to jointly manage maritime differences and defuse the situation.

It is known, China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines landed a rusty naval vessel Sierra Madre, which was deliberately ran aground in 1999 to strengthen its maritime claims.

Manila regularly sends supply missions to the sailors stationed on the bench, making them a turning point with Beijing.

Beijing, which is adamant that its actions in the territorial waters are legitimate, on Monday reiterated its request for the Philippines to withdraw the warships it ran aground, saying it would not accept Manila sending large amounts of building materials to the region.

"From now on until the time the warship is withdrawn, if the Philippines needs to send life necessities to personnel living on the warship, China is willing to allow it with a humanitarian spirit if the Philippines notify China first and after on-site verification," the ministry said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said a temporary arrangement with the Philippines in humanitarian supply deliveries "mirrors China's goodwill."

The Philippines previously said it was opposed to informing China in advance about its supply mission, which it said was legitimate, saying it had not changed under a new deal despite a statement from China's ministry.

"The principles and approaches listed in the agreement were reached through a series of careful and thorough consultations between the two parties that paved the way for the convergence of ideas without sacrificing national positions," the Philippine State Department said.

"Therefore, a spokesman's statement regarding previous notifications and on-site confirmations is inaccurate," he added.

The Bamboo Curtain Country rejected the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands in 2016 which declared Beijing's expansive claim to have no international legal basis.