With the continuous support of the government of Canada during intimidations of the Chinese militia to Philippine troops in the disputed West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed gratitude to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during their engagement on his official visit to the country.

Marcos said Canada’s continuous backing for a rules-based order in the South China Sea and for upholding the Arbitral Award secured by the Philippines in 2016 means a lot to Filipinos

“As the Philippines celebrates the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award on the South China Sea, I thanked Canada for its vocal and consistent support for a rules-based order in the South China Sea, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and in upholding the Arbitral Award as final and legally binding,” President Marcos said in his remarks during the joint press statement in Vancouver Convention Centre.

The Canadian government consistently backs the 2016 arbitral tribunal award, which invalidated China's expansive territorial claims and upheld Philippine sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Arbitral Award, a landmark ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration under UNCLOS, was officially finalized on 12 July 2016.

The tribunal favored the Philippines and invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” as it ruled that China’s historic rights claims over the South China Sea have no legal basis.

The President likewise thanked Canada for its Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) Program, which was deployed to the Philippines to help the country combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) and increase maritime domain awareness.

The President said he conveyed keen interest to the Canadian side in the continuation of the DVD program in Philippine waters.

The President said he and Prime Minister Carney welcomed the signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in November 2025, which is due for ratification by the  Philippine Senate, and the signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement and the Statement of Intent on Strengthening Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and Canada two weeks ago.

President Marcos also announced the elevation of Philippines-Canada bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership.