Marcos Jr: Philippines will be involved if Taiwan-China conflict breaks out
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has stated that his country is likely to be involved in any conflict that may arise regarding Taiwan. This position is based on the Philippines’ close geographical proximity to the democratic island. Such a stance risks provoking anger from Beijing.
“In the Philippines, we have no choice because Taiwan is very close to the Philippines, and we have almost 200,000 Filipino citizens living and working there,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday.
The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of his state visit to Japan next week, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security cooperation. Takaichi herself made a similar statement late last year regarding the potential for Japan to be dragged into a Taiwan conflict, which triggered deep diplomatic friction with China.
Taiwan remains a geopolitical and economic priority in Asia as the world’s largest producer of high-end semiconductors. Beijing has repeatedly expressed its determination to control the island. Conversely, the United States, while not supporting Taiwan’s independence, opposes any unilateral change to the status quo and continues to supply weapons to Taipei to prevent aggression.
Tensions are further complicated by political dynamics in Washington. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a stern warning to President Donald Trump during his visit to Beijing, stating that mishandting the Taiwan issue risks triggering a clash. Trump himself sparked concern by referring to a proposed US$14 billion arms sale as a “very good negotiating chip” with Beijing.
Responding to Marcos’s remarks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the Philippines to respect its commitments. “Geographical proximity and a large number of citizens should not be an excuse for a country to interfere in the internal affairs and sovereignty of another state,” Guo asserted during a briefing in Beijing.
Under Marcos’s leadership, the Philippines has emerged at the forefront of US efforts to counter Beijing’s aggression in the region. Manila has granted the US additional military access to bases near Taiwan, although Marcos has guaranteed that these bases will not be used for offensive actions.
In addition to the Taiwan issue, Marcos highlighted territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. He stated that both the Philippines and Japan are facing similar challenges regarding coercive actions in disputed waters. During his upcoming meeting with PM Takaichi, Marcos will seek clarity regarding Japan’s security posture following Tokyo’s relaxation of defence export rules. “We want to hear more about what Japan actually intends to do and what they are willing to do,” he concluded.