Philippines can’t avoid being pulled into China-Taiwan conflict, Marcos says

Marcos had said the Philippines’ involvement in any Taiwan war would be “inevitable,” a comment that the president said was “misinterpreted” by China when it accused him of “playing with fire.” 

"We do not want to go to war,” Marcos told reporters in a briefing.” But I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be drawn. We will be pulled into it, whether we like it or not — kicking and screaming, we will be drawn and dragged into that mess.”

“I don’t know what they are talking about. Playing with fire? I was just stating facts.” 

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, threatening to take over it by force by sending warships and planes into the waters and airspace around the island.

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In 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping said no one could stop Beijing's "reunification" with Taiwan.

Manila has also been entangled in a territorial dispute with Beijing, more specifically over parts of the South China Sea that were declared in a 2016 arbitration to be within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. 

As tensions in the region escalate anew, Marcos said the Philippines has to have its guard up. 

“Whatever we do — I love the saying: hope is not a plan. I hope it doesn't happen. But if it does, we have to plan for it already. And that's what I was talking about. How do we get our people out?"

“Despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody, anywhere, a war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines, kicking and screaming into the conflict."

Marcos, who assumed office in 2022 on a “friend to all, enemy to none” foreign policy, has consistently stood up against China, especially in matters related to the West Philippine Sea, where many Filipino fisherfolk still face intimidation from Beijing vessels.

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