President Marcos set to visit Brunei, Singapore
MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is expected to advance the country’s position in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) when he addresses top military officials and experts from different parts of the world in Singapore next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
Marcos will deliver the keynote address at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies on May 31.
Before the Singapore trip, Marcos and First Lady Liza Marcos will visit Brunei on May 28 to 29 upon the invitation of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
DFA Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau said several memoranda of understanding will be signed with Brunei, including those on priority areas ranging from agriculture to food security, maritime cooperation and tourism.
The President is the first Philippine leader to address the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense summit, according to Mendiola-Rau.
Marcos’ visit was upon the invitation of former Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Mendiola-Rau said she expects the President to touch on the maritime disputes with China in his keynote address.
“I presume for all meetings and as well as the speech of the President, his keynote address, this (WPS) issue will be touched but I do not wish to preempt the statements of the President,” she said.
Mendiola-Rau added that the summit is expected to include a delegation from China.
“Only one leader delivers this address every year, and President Marcos was given the distinct honor for this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue,” Mendiola-Rau said.
DFA spokesperson Maria Teresita Daza said the Shangri-La Dialogue “gives a good platform for a country to actually expound and articulate its position on key issues.”
The Philippines has countered China’s repeated aggression against Filipino vessels in the WPS. Beijing continues to disregard the 2016 arbitral ruling favoring Manila and rejecting its expansive claims in the South China Sea.
Through this Shangri-La Dialogue, Mendiola-Rau said, the Philippines will have the opportunity to provide the stakeholders “an important source of accurate, objective information on international strategic issues important
