Marcos: SCS claims are not equal, cautions vs. inaccurate narratives

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

In a foreign policy speech delivered at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on Wednesday, Marcos said powerful nations are eroding the global order by flouting international law, undermining rules-based norms, and cloaking aggressive actions under the pretext of geopolitics. (PCO Photo)

NEW DELHI – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has warned the international community against false equivalence in maritime disputes, declaring that not all claims in the South China Sea are legitimate and equal as he called for the rejection of disinformation and unilateral actions violating international law.

In a foreign policy speech delivered at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on Wednesday, Marcos said powerful nations are eroding the global order by flouting international law, undermining rules-based norms, and cloaking aggressive actions under the pretext of geopolitics.

“The complex issue of competing claims in the South China Sea has, for years, been unfortunately and simplistically reduced to ‘the South China Sea disputes,’ as if claims were all equal. They are not,” Marcos said.

“The assertions of littoral states have to pass the test of conformity with international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and definitive, binding interpretations such as the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

He cautioned against letting “inaccurate narratives” dominate discourse and mask illegal acts, stressing that countries like the Philippines and India must now “play a more active role in upholding, defending, and preserving our rules-based order.”

India: A responsible major power

Marcos praised India as a “responsible major power,” citing its compliance with international tribunal rulings on maritime disputes — an apparent contrast to China, which has rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims over the South China Sea.

“For a country with rapidly growing power and influence, India has submitted to the judgment of international tribunals on matters concerning maritime disputes—a model for how a responsible major power and a good neighbor should behave,” he said.

The President said global governance is under immense pressure from strategic competition, coercive actions, and institutional fatigue.

He warned that some founding defenders of the post-war order have “turned inward”, while others exploit this shift to “cloak opaque claims with a semblance of legitimacy.”

“Such narratives at times dominate, obscuring the international community’s judgment,” he said. “Some powers are seeking to take advantage of this shift.”

Marcos’ remarks come at a time of heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed in multiple confrontations, with Manila accusing Beijing of illegal incursions and dangerous maneuvers near Philippine-held features.

Marcos’ speech capped the New Delhi leg of his state visit, which saw the Philippines and India formally elevate ties to a Strategic Partnership—only the fifth such accord Manila has entered into, following similar arrangements with Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and South Korea.

He said India possesses the “strategic trust, common cause, and responsible behavior” that the Philippines looks for in deepening ties, calling the partnership a product of “great deliberation” rather than a diplomatic trend.

“India has emerged as one of the countries with which the Philippines finds these sterling qualities,” he said.

“Our strategic partnership reflects the growing convergence of our long-term interests in the context of the historic shifts that will inform the ebb and flow of this century.”

Democracy, multilateralism, middle power leadership

Marcos called for reforms in global institutions and more assertive leadership by emerging middle powers to safeguard multilateralism from paralysis.

“Some so-called ‘major countries’ exert undue influence. We must ensure meaningful reforms in the United Nations and the Security Council itself—towards inclusivity, equity, and justice,” he said.

The President urged democracies to work together to protect the global commons and uphold laws, even amid intensifying great power competition.

“The world and our region must be able to seize maximum gains from the transformative power of advanced technologies, while paying due attention to their disruptive potential,” he said. “We are not invested in rivalry—we are invested in stability.”

On Thursday, the President flies to Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, to deepen economic engagement and meet industry leaders.