‘Friend to all, enemy to none’: Marcos softens West Philippine Sea rhetoric but vows continued defense

Credit to Author: Cristina Chi| Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 18:11:00 +0800

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. struck a more diplomatic tone on the South China Sea dispute during his state of the nation address Monday, July 28 — omitting explicit mention of the West Philippine Sea while stressing Manila would defend its sovereignty with "patience" and "restraint."

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