Marcos signs EO strengthening maritime security amid China threats

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 57 to strengthen the Philippines' maritime security and domain awareness in response to China's escalating threats and aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

EO 57 was issued following President Marcos' description of "open, unabating, and illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by Chinese vessels.

The executive order underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach to tackling issues impacting national security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction over the Philippines' extensive maritime zones.

Under EO 57, the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) has been renamed and reorganized into the National Maritime Council (NMC) chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea is attached to the NMC, responsible for synchronizing and operationalizing the employment of capabilities of different government agencies for unified action in the WPS.

China claims practically all of the South China Sea, including the WPS, ignoring a 2016 Arbitral Ruling that deemed that claim invalid, despite the Philippines having sovereign rights to exploit and care for resources in those areas.