Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. right, shakes hands with House Speaker Martin Romualdez ahead of the State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Philippines, on Monday, July 22, 2024. in the Philippines, accusing them of venturing into crimes, including financial scams, human trafficking, torture, kidnappings and murders.
The Philippines has a complicated relationship with China, including significant trade engagements and cooperation against crimes. But the neighboring Asian countries have also had longstanding disputes in the South China Sea which have grown increasingly hostile since last year. “Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder,” Marcos said in his address. “The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop.”
Setting out his vision for the year ahead, Marcos outlined moves to address a range of issues, including soaring costs of food and electricity, poverty and low wages. On Manila's increasingly hostile disputes with Beijing, Marcos stressed the Philippines would not back down but would only resort to peaceful means to resolve any dispute.
Philippine efforts, he said, were continuing “to strengthen our defense posture, both through developing self-reliance and through partnerships with like-minded states."
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