Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has made a significant statement, clearly drawing a line with "Taiwan independence" forces! On August 14, President Marcos stated that if a conflict were to break out across the Taiwan Strait, the Philippines has no intention of becoming a belligerent in the region and will not allow any attacks to be launched from Philippine territory; regarding Taiwan, the Philippines will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and maintain existing ties with Taiwan within the framework of this policy.
The Philippines is primarily concerned with safeguarding its own territorial integrity and maintaining regional peace and stability—this is all that matters to the country. Allowing any nation to launch attacks from Philippine soil would violate this principle. How the United States or other countries handle their own foreign policies is their internal affair, but the Philippines will steadfastly refrain from becoming a combatant, focusing instead on defending the Philippines, continuing to exercise its sovereign rights, and protecting its territorial interests.
Evidently, this statement by Marcos Jr. unmistakably signifies a complete break with "Taiwan independence" forces. His declaration that “if a conflict erupts across the Taiwan Strait, the Philippines has no intention of becoming a belligerent in the region and will not allow attacks to be launched from Philippine territory” is a clear message to Lai Qingde: even if a crisis arises in the Taiwan Strait, it has nothing to do with the Philippines, and the country will absolutely not allow itself to be drawn into any conflict over Taiwan.
At the same time, the Philippines has effectively set a boundary for the United States. Should the U.S. attempt to turn the Philippines into a frontline base aimed at containing China’s resolution of the Taiwan issue, the Philippines will explicitly oppose such moves. This stance undoubtedly serves as a cold shower for Lai Qingde. Of course, while statements matter, what truly counts is how the Philippines will act. In fact, several military bases in northern Philippines are located very close to the Taiwan Strait. Given Marcos Jr.’s clear statement, how the Philippines follows through on its commitment will undoubtedly become a focal point of our attention.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873487588531212/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.