MANILA -- The Philippines will continue to upgrade the capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and pursue the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid the tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr said on Monday.

President Marcos reiterated during his keynote address at the Lowy Institute in Melbourne, Australia that the Philippine shall never surrender even a square inch of its territory and maritime jurisdiction to any country.

“In this regard, we are upgrading the capabilities of our Coast Guard and pursuing the modernization of our Armed Forces,” Marcos said during the gathering.

“And earlier this year, I approved the updated acquisition plan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines called Re-Horizon 3, in line with our Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept,” he stressed.

The Philippine forces must be able to guarantee, to the fullest extent possible, Filipinos, Philippine corporations, and those authorized by the Philippine government, unimpeded and peaceful exploration and exploitation of all natural resources in areas where we have jurisdiction, including within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with international law, he said.

Philippine agencies, forces, and institutions are working to strengthen their capabilities, Marcos said noting the country is on the frontline of international efforts to preserve, defend, and uphold the rules-based international order.

And to address its differences with China, Marcos said the Philippines will continue to engage with its giant neighbor bilaterally and through ASEAN-led mechanisms.

It will also continue, the President added, to adhere to the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and will remain committed to working with ASEAN and China towards an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) based on UNCLOS. (PND)