MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. redacted a portion from his social media post where he claimed that Vietnam backed the Philippines’ arbitral award in the South China Sea.
In his original post on August 30, the Chief Executive posted pictures with Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang and thanked Vietnam “for supporting the Arbitral Award.”
“We have elevated Philippines-Vietnam relations to greater heights with the visit of Vietnam’s Defense Minister, General Phan Van Giang,” President Marcos started his original post.
“We thank Vietnam for the supporting the Arbitral Award. Together, we remain committed to peaceful resolutions, de-escalating tensions and ensuring that the rule of law and a rules-based international order prevail in our region,” he added.
However, on Saturday, it was noticed that the portion of “We thank Vietnam for the supporting the Arbitral Award” was removed from the Chief Executive’s post.
The Presidential Communications Office has yet to comment on the changes in PBBM’s post, while the Department of Foreign Affairs also did not answer whether Vietnam requested for the statement to be dropped.
China and the Philippines have been locked in a years-long dispute in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims almost the entire waterway with its so-called nine-dash line, which overlaps the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The Philippines uses the West Philippine Sea name for the portion of the SCS that it claims.
In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines and invalidated China’s claim in the strategic waters, but Beijing has refused to accept the ruling.
China has also become more assertive in its maritime territorial claims, leading to multiple clashes where Philippine ships have been damaged and Filipino sailors injured by water cannons./PN
