The Philippines solidified its stance in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following President Ferdinand Marcos’ visit to the Czech Republic.
This comes after Czech Republic President Petr Pavel expressed support for the Philippines amidst ongoing issues in the West Philippine Sea.
During their bilateral meeting, Pavel emphasized the importance of upholding the rules-based order and ensuring free and open navigation in the area.
According to Speaker Martin Romualdez, the two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in various fields such as defense and cybersecurity, as well as leveraging modern technology.
Romualdez stressed that cooperation will aid in strengthening the Philippines’ defense capabilities, enhancing maritime security in the region, and contributing to safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity in the WPS.
Furthermore, Romualdez highlighted the significant support from Czech defense companies for the Re-horizon 3 phase of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, which focuses on improving archipelagic defense capabilities, including the purchase of ships, aircraft, and radar systems.
Romualdez also emphasized that cybersecurity is a critical component of national security, suggesting its use in protecting critical infrastructure, sensitive information, and thwarting cyberattacks from state-sponsored actors.
Additionally, the House leader mentioned that maritime domain awareness, intelligence gathering, and disaster response can be strengthened through the use of artificial intelligence, surveillance systems, and communication networks.
