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Presidential contender Isko Moreno says the Philippines needs to strengthen its military presence in the South China Sea. Photo: EPA-EFE

Philippine presidential hopefuls wade into South China Sea dispute

  • Vice-President Leni Robredo calls for coalition of nations against China’s militarisation of the waters
  • Senator Manny Pacquiao seeks more discussion on the issue
Four presidential aspirants in the Philippines had varying strategies to resolve disputes in the South China Sea including through building alliances with other nations and boosting military presence in the region, according to interviews with GMA News.
The candidates – Vice-President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno – took part in the interviews but Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who led last month’s presidential preference survey, declined to join.

“Our court victory should be our leverage,” Robredo said in an interview broadcast on Saturday night.

China conducts large air, sea drills in disputed South China Sea

She said a coalition of nations could be formed against China’s militarisation of the disputed sea, banking on the 2016 ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which rejected China’s nine-dash claim to most of the waters.

Lacson said the Philippines should strengthen alliances with the United States, the European Union, Japan, Australia and other countries with strong militaries.

Pacquiao said the Philippines should not allow itself to be bullied by China and sought more discussions on the issue, while Moreno pointed out the need to bolster the country’s military presence in the South China Sea.

The four presidential candidates, competing in the elections scheduled for May 9, all said they were in favor of joint exploration in the South China Sea, with Robredo clarifying that her stance was premised on all parties’ recognition of the arbitral ruling.

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