By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been included in TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2024”.
TIME recognized Marcos’ efforts on economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, adding how his leadership “elevated the Philippines on the world stage”.
The President’s stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid escalating tensions in the region was also cited.
According to TIME, Marcos has remained “steadfast against Chinese aggression” in the disputed waters and bolstered the country’s alliance with the United States.
Last week, the Chief Executive held a trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House in Washington D.C. where the three leaders expressed their concern over China’s behavior in WPS.
“We steadfastly oppose the dangerous and coercive use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in the South China Sea, as well as efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation,” the leaders said in a joint statement.
“We reiterate serious concern over the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation, and the disruption of supply lines to Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), which constitute dangerous and destabilizing conduct,” they added.
In late March, several Filipino crew members of a Philippine supply ship en route to Ayungin Shoal sustained injuries following a water cannon attack by a China Coast Guard vessel.
The leaders also called on China to abide by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration’s “final and legally binding” ruling on July 12, 2016 which determined the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the country has shown robust economic growth and recovery under the Marcos administration despite geopolitical tensions and post-pandemic hurdles.
“The inclusion of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in the TIME 100 list reflects his brand of leadership that puts the national interest and the welfare of every Filipino above all else,” the PCO said in a statement.
“The President continues to steer the country towards peace and prosperity towards his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas,” it added.
Other leaders recognized by TIME were: Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny; Taiwan President-elect Willian Lai; Qatar Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Adbulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; Chinese Premier Li Qiang; Andriy Yermak, right-hand man of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among others.
Marcos is the third Philippine leader to be included in the list after his predecessors, Rodrigo Duterte and Benigno Aquino III were featured in 2017 and 2013, respectively. – avds
