The Philippines should cooperate with Indonesia on the South China Sea dispute and boost economic activities in areas being claimed by China, political analysts said on Monday. Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. should look at Indonesia’s plan to set up a special economic zone in its key territory in the South China Sea that China claims, they added. “The Philippines should follow the example of Indonesia in coming up with a strategic response to the growing tension in the West Philippine Sea by establishing a special economic zone,” said Arjan P. Aguirre, a political science professor at the Ateneo De Manila University. He was referring to parts of the South China Sea within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Atienza, K. A. T. (2022, September 6). Marcos told to boost Indonesia ties to repel China. BusinessWorld, p. S1/10.