MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he does not work for any powerful countries, including the United States and China, but only for the Philippines.
The Chief Executive made the statement during his bilateral meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte in Singapore as they both made a stand in upholding international rules-based order in the pursuit of peace and security.
“Over a hundred of years that we have been in contact in informal trade that has been going on, it’s still not balanced…All we want really, is the promotion of peace and the national interest,” Marcos said.
He added: “I don’t work for Beijing, I don’t work for Washington, I don’t work for Moscow. I work for Manila. I work for the Philippines and that’s what I need to promote.”
The Chief Executive also stressed the principles remain the same and that the Philippines promote what is based in international law and rules-based order.
“The world has changed in a way that you can no longer isolate the effects of (war) in Russia, around the world,” the Philippine President told Šimonyte.
“It’s almost impossible but now it is now regional issues, they eventually impact the unexpected places which are very, very far away,” he added.
President Marcos’ statement came after he called on the US and China to manage their rivalry to maintain peace and stability in the region during his keynote address at the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense summit.
“China’s determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region is permanent. At the same time, the stabilizing presence of America is crucial to regional peace. It’s never a choice. Both countries are important,” Marcos said.
“The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage that rivalry in a responsible manner,” the President added./PN
