Marcos says the Philippines will be pulled into any war over Taiwan

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated the Philippines would be drawn into a potential conflict over Taiwan, citing its geographic proximity and the presence of 200,000 Filipino workers there. He emphasized that the country would stand firm against any threats to its territorial integrity, particularly regarding the South China Sea disputes.

This response follows aggressive maneuvers by the Chinese coast guard against Philippine vessels at Scarborough Shoal. Marcos expressed confusion over China's protests, reiterating,

"We do not want to go to war, but...we will be drawn, we will be pulled in whether we like it or not, kicking and screaming."

China accused Marcos of "playing with fire" with his comments and Marcos said that Beijing has "misinterpreted" his comments.