House Speaker Martin Romualdez told world’s lawmakers the Marcos administration is committed to defend the country’s sovereign rights through the force of international law and by leveraging partnerships with other democratic nations.
Speaking at the 29th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum (PI-SF) Thursday afternoon, Romualdez said Manila remains uncowed by Beijing’s constant intrusions and aggression in Philippine waters.
“These are not isolated incidents. “This is not just a regional issue. It is a global test of whether the rule of law will prevail over brute force,” the Speaker told fellow legislators.
His remarks came on the heels of another water cannon attack by a China Coast Guard ship on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources research vessel in the West Philippine Sea earlier that day.
“Let me be clear: the Philippines remains steadfast in protecting our rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea by upholding international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” Romualdez said.
“We categorically reject attempts to undermine our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction through coercion or disinformation,” he added.
He said the Philippines will never surrender its rights nor fall silent in the face of unlawful intimidation.
“Our approach is anchored on legal clarity, diplomatic dialogue, leveraging partnerships, and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” Romualdez said.
“We will not allow foreign narratives to distort the truth on the ground. Nor will we permit coercive actions to dictate our national destiny,” he added.
The Speaker called on democracies and rules-based nations to remain vigilant and united against gray-zone tactics, cyber-enabled propaganda, and the creeping erosion of maritime law and order.
“Forums like the PI-SF allow us to expand these initiatives globally. Here, we are not merely exchanging intelligence—we are building solidarity, mutual understanding, and the legislative muscle to defend freedom and prosperity in this rapidly shifting world,” Romualdez said.
Hosted by the Spanish Senate and chaired by former U.S. Congressman Robert Pittenger, the 29th PI-SF convened over 40 nations to align strategies on countering global threats.
Meanwhile, the international community called on China to respect international law, including the UNCLOS, and to uphold the 2016 arbitral ruling in the South China Sea.
Like-minded countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, jointly condemned China’s use of water cannons against Philippine civilian vessels near the disputed Sandy Cay reef in the Spratly Islands.
The incident involved the CCG firing water cannons and sideswiping a BFAR vessel while it was collecting sand for a research project on Thursday.
According to US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, China’s aggressive action “threatens regional stability and endangers lives of lawful civilians.”
The Canadian Embassy also expressed deep concern over China’s “dangerous action in the seas.”
“We strongly oppose China’s coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea, including near Sandy Cay,” the Canadian Embassy said in a statement posted on X.
The United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, and Australia echoed similar concerns, reiterating their support for the Philippines, the 2016 arbitral award, and their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The UK condemns the latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives & raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour. International law & the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected,” UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils said.
“Australia shares the Philippines’ deep concerns at dangerous actions by China’s Coast Guard near Sandy Cay. Using water cannons and sideswiping civilian Philippine vessels endangers lives and harms regional stability. International law, particularly UNCLOS, must be respected,” Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu added.
As this developed, the Philippine government denounced the latest “aggressive actions” by the CCG around Pag-asa Island and its nearby cays
In a statement, the National Maritime Council (NMC) expressed “grave concern” over what it called “unlawful interference” by the CCG.
”The Philippines expresses grave concern over the recent aggressive actions and unlawful interference of the CCG against Philippine civilian public against Philippine civilian public vessels in the West Philippine Sea,” the NMC said.
The council condemned these incidents as “deliberate acts of interference and intimidation” that gravely undermine Philippine sovereignty.