This was the statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in an interview with an Indian News outlet during the sidelines of his five-day state visit to India, following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
But Beijing took issue with it, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirming that they had lodged a protest against the president’s statement.
This was linked to the President’s apparent questioning of the Taiwan Strait, which is said to be part of China.
This was said to be a kind of provocation for Beijing, because the one-China policy states that the issue of the Taiwan Strait is an internal problem of their country.
Beijing also criticized Marcos’ statement as contrary to international law and the ASEAN Charter, and asserted that it also harms the peace and stability in the region.
Marcos emphasized Manila’s position in the midst of the issue between Taipei and Beijing, where resident Marcos considers the safety and welfare of more than 200,000 Filipinos based in Taiwan.
Amid the South China Sea issue, the President stressed that the Philippines is not fighting China, but is only protecting the country’s territory.
Through open communication, Manila is maintaining contact with Beijing amid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Among the important agreements reached between the Philippines and India during the President’s state visit was New Delhi’s participation in trilateral exercises, where India became the fifth country to participate in Manila’s strategic partnership in maritime exercises.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News