PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, he is willing to “explore” maritime border talks with China and other countries using the strategy that resulted in the peaceful agreement with Indonesia over disputes in Mindanao and Celebes Sea.“We should show it to the rest of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as an example that it can be done basta mag-uusap kayo,” Marcos said in a press conference in Indonesia where he held a three-day state visit.“It is worthwhile to explore at the very least… It is one instance that this kind of discussion, we came to a conclusion and we came to a resolution. So we should try it. Now, hopefully, it works,” he added.In July, the Philippines and Indonesia laid the groundwork for the delimitation of their continental shelf boundary in the Celebes Sea, a declared priority for both countries during the First Special Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns on the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundary.The maritime boundary delimitation between the world’s two largest archipelagic states is a significant state practice on delimitation and contributes to the development of international law, particularly the law of the sea.In a meeting on Monday, September 5, Marcos strengthened their commitment to accelerate negotiations on the delimitation of the continental shelf based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).The Philippines and Indonesia are entitled to 200 exclusive economic zones under the Unclos.China refused to recognize the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands that invalidates their claims within the sea areas falling within the nine-dash line that is over 90 percent of the West Philippine Sea.Marcos earlier committed to defend the country’s interest in the disputed territory. (SunStar Philippines)