MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday that his country is inevitably attracted to “kicks and screams” at the war over Taiwan, despite protesting China’s strong protest against such Lima.
Marcos also said that the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy and other ships would never retreat to protect the interests of the territory of the South China Sea, and that on Monday the Chinese Coast Guard would carry out dangerous blocking operations and would not stand on the ground in the contested waters. Used a powerful water cannon They attempt to drive away a Filipino ship from the enthusiastically contested Scarborough shawl.
This is the latest flare-up of years of territorial disputes in busy waterways, an important global trade route with overlapping claims between China and the Philippines. escalate In recent years. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim some of the contested waters.
There is a relationship between China and the Philippines I’m extremely nervous After Marcos took office in mid-2022, his administration emerged as the most Vocal critic China’s increasingly aggressive behavior in the South China Sea in Asia. The Marcos administration deepened its involvement in treaty alliances with the United States, and began expanding security alliances with other Western and Asian countries, including Japan, Australia, India and several EU member states, and strengthened deterrence against Beijing’s claims.
China protested last week, accusing Marcos of interfering with and violating its domestic issues. “One China” policy When he told reporters to the sidelines of his visit to India, the Philippines could not stay from a possible war in Taiwan, as the Philippines was close to his country and there were around 200,000 Filipino workers on a self-excluded island. China claimed that Taiwan is its own territory and threatened to repeatedly annex it by force if necessary.
China’s Foreign Ministry later said through a spokesman that “the “geographical location” and Taiwan’s “large amounts of Filipinos” should not be used as an excuse to interfere with the internal and sovereignty of other countries,” and that it “urged the Philippines to “really adhere to Chinese principles,” and that “please refrain from issuing with Chinese interest.”
When asked to comment on the Chinese protest, Marcos said he was confused and did not understand Beijing’s concerns.
“I don’t know what they’re talking about, are they playing with fire? They were saying the facts. I don’t want to go to war, but I think if there’s a war over Taiwan we’ll be drawn to it. “We’re drawn to it and dragged into that mess. I hope that doesn’t happen, but if that’s the case, we already have to plan it.”
Separately, the Commodore of Philippine Coast Guard Jay Taliella said in stages that Chinese Coast Guard vessels had chased dangerous blocking operations on Monday against the Philippine Coast Guard and shallow water fishing boats in Scarborough. The Philippine Coast Guard vessel was able to avoid being attacked by Chinese Coast Guard water cannons during the brawl, he said.
While chasing the Philippine Coast Guard vessel, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel accidentally collided with the Chinese Navy vessel, Taliella said. He said the Chinese Coast Guard ships remained “substantial damage” and the Philippine Coast Guard offered to provide assistance, including medical assistance, to the Chinese side.
There were no immediate comments from Chinese officials about Taliella’s statement.
When asked whether Philippine vessels would be instructed to withdraw from the conflicted shallow waters, Marcos said his government would not leave the fight.
“There’s no silver bullet that if you fire it, all our problems will be resolved,” Marcos said. “What happens, we will continue to exist, continue to defend our territory, continue to exercise our rights of sovereignty, and continue to do so as we have done in the last three years despite our opposition from everyone.”
