The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., addressed concerns about the country’s actions in the West Philippine Sea in an interview with Bloomberg Television. He emphasized that the Philippines is not seeking conflict and is simply trying to protect its territory due to increasing threats. Despite tensions with China, Marcos clarified that the Philippines is not acting under the command of the United States.
The relationship between Manila and Beijing has soured following a series of incidents in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos has expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation with the US while standing up to Chinese aggression in the region. He reiterated that the Philippines is not seeking military intervention from the US, emphasizing the importance of self-defense.
Under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, the US has committed to defending the Philippines in case of an armed attack. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed this commitment, stating that Washington will uphold its obligations to the Philippines.
Marcos stressed that invoking the defense agreement would only occur in the face of an “existential threat.” He emphasized the importance of working with partners and allies to avoid any escalation of conflict in the West Philippine Sea. The President expressed a desire to prevent a war with China and underscored the need for peaceful resolutions to disputes in the region.
