Mongolia backs PH efforts on peaceful settlement of disputes, rule of law
Mongolia's Foreign Affairs Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo hold a joint press conference on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the Department of Foreign Affairs office in Pasay City. MICHAELA DEL CALLAR
Mongolia on Monday expressed support for the Philippines' efforts towards a peaceful resolution of disputes as both nations stressed that rule of law must prevail in the face of evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
In a joint press conference after meeting his Mongolian counterpart Battsetseg Batmunkh in Manila, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said they both 'emphasized the importance of adherence to the United Nations Charter' and reaffirmed commitment to the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes.'
'Beyond our economic ties, the Philippines and Mongolia are Asian democracies bound by shared values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. In this context, we reaffirmed our shared interest in the evolving Indo-Pacific landscape and in defending the rules-based international order,' Manalo said.
The 1982 accord calls on all nations to resolve disputes without threat, harassment or use of force.
It also states that 'every state shall settle its international disputes exclusively by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.'
China insists ownership of almost 90% of the South China Sea, including areas that overlap with the Philippines' and other Asian nations' territorial waters.
The disputes have led to a series of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese coast guards and navy forces in the resource-rich waters – a major trade route teeming with rich marine life and said to be harboring vast oil and mineral deposits.
Manalo said he and Battsetseg renewed their commitment to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, which is regarded as the global constitution for the seas signed by162 nations, including the Philippines and Mongolia.
The two officials also reiterated their countries' call for nuclear weapons-free zones and signed bilateral agreements, including a pilot program for Mongolians to study English in the Philippines.
Manalo thanked the Mongolian government for helping ensure that the rights and welfare of around 500 Filipinos living in Mongolia are protected.
The two top diplomats likewise agreed to bolster economic ties, noting that as middle-income countries, the Philippines and Mongolia 'share an interest in pursuing cooperation to sustain our promising development trajectories.' —KG, GMA Integrated News
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