Stratbase President- Dindo Manhit
Manila- International think tank Stratbase ADR Institute has expressed support for President Ferdinand
Marcos Jr’s strong stance at a major regional security summit, applauding his commitment to
upholding the country’s sovereign rights and empowering frontliners amidst aggression in the
West Philippine Sea.
“The Stratbase ADR Institute commends Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who, during
his keynote message at the Shangri-La Dialogue, sounded the call to strengthen partnerships
and multilateral cooperation to address key geopolitical challenges. With his statement,
President Marcos Jr. emboldened states to abide by the fundamental tenets of international law
as responsible members of the international community,” Stratbase President Dindo Manhit
said in a statement on Monday.
During his historic keynote address at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, Marcos called on states to abide by international
law to maintain regional stability and prosperity. He criticized the “illegal, coercive, aggressive,
and deceptive actions [that] continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and
jurisdictions” in the West Philippine Sea– where Beijing has escalated intrusions.
As an advocate for the rule of law and the rules-based international order, Stratbase firmly
asserts Manila’s legal and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea, guided by the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the arbitral ruling. These recognize the
Philippines’ sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone that Beijing claims as
part of its expansive territory in the South China Sea.
“The President’s strong pronouncement that the administration will stand by its solemn
commitment to do ‘whatever it takes to protect our sovereign home- to the last square inch, to
the last square millimeter’ is a reaffirmation that we are on the right side of history. Statements
such as this serve to empower our brave frontliners- whether uniformed or civilian- to
continue to safeguard our territory in the face of aggression,” Manhit said.
He called on like-minded states to staunchly defend the rule of law and back the Philippines’ bid
for a United Nations Security Council seat for the 2027-2028 term. He also urged Filipinos to
continue their efforts defending the West Philippine Sea and resisting divisive foreign
influences.
“The President declared that he will not yield. Neither will we,” Manhit stressed.
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