President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.expressed gratitude to Canada for its continued support of a rules-based international order in the South China Sea during a bilateral engagement in Vancouver with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Marcos highlighted Canada’s consistent recognition of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which affirmed the Philippines’ legal position under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and declared the decision as final and legally binding.He underscored the importance of upholding international law amid ongoing maritime tensions in the region, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippine leader also acknowledged Canada’s growing involvement in the Indo-Pacific region through its Indo-Pacific Strategy, emphasizing shared interests in maintaining peace, stability, and security at sea.

He specifically thanked Canada for its Dark Vessel Detection Program, which has supported the Philippines in improving maritime domain awareness and strengthening efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.Marcos said the Philippines is keen on continuing and expanding the implementation of this program in its waters.Both leaders also discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations under a newly established Strategic Partnership.

Key topics included expanded cooperation in defense and security, maritime security collaboration, and the possibility of Canada ratifying a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement.Such an agreement would allow closer military-to-military engagement, including joint exercises and multinational operations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the role of middle powers like Canada in reinforcing and modernizing the global rules-based order through alliances with like-minded countries, particularly in areas of shared strategic interest such as maritime security and international law.