 "Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and Firstpost Managing Editor Palki Sharma. Firstpost")
A Firstpost interview with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has reverberated far beyond the studio, drawing sharp responses from China, public gratitude from Taiwan, and affirmation from Manila.
Marcos’s statement that the Philippines “cannot stay out” if conflict erupts in the Taiwan Strait has ignited diplomatic, strategic, and media discourse across Asia and beyond. As tensions in the Indo-Pacific escalate, the remarks have put Manila at the centre of the geopolitical chessboard.
What the Philippine president said
In an exclusive interview with Firstpost Managing Editor Palki Sharma , President Marcos delivered candid remarks on the Taiwan issue during his state visit to India.
“To be very practical about it, if there is a confrontation over Taiwan between China and the United States, there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it, simply because of our physical geographic location,” Marcos said, underlining that Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is only a 40-minute flight from the northern Philippines.
He added that a conflict would “immediately” become a humanitarian issue. “If there is an all-out war, we will be drawn into it. We will have to go into Taiwan and bring our people home,” he said, referring the large Filipino community living in Taiwan.
Marcos emphasised that the Philippines was not preparing for war but reacting to “the challenges we are facing.” He advocated stronger defence partnerships with countries like India and confirmed ongoing procurement of BrahMos missiles.
He also asserted that his country’s alliance with the United States remains “ironclad” and clarified Manila’s readiness to cooperate with partners facing the “Chinese threat”. Marcos said, “Why should we turn down partners who face the Chinese threat? We are not acting as a puppet state. It is our duty to defend our country.”
Impact Shorts
View AllChina’s reaction: Angry outbursts
China responded swiftly and strongly to President Marcos’s remarks, lodging formal protests through both its foreign ministry and its embassy in Manila.
“There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” China’s Foreign Ministry said, reiterating its long-standing “One-China Policy”. The ministry criticised the Philippines’ proximity and large expatriate population in Taiwan as insufficient justifications for interfering in what it called an “internal affair”.
In a statement carried by the Global Times, Beijing said, “The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair at the core of China’s core interests and allows no external interference… Marcos Jr and others like him need no extra interpretation — the plain meaning should be easy enough to grasp.”
China further accused the Philippines of “playing with fire” and warned against the nation becoming involved in matters concerning China’s sovereignty.
In another statement, China said the Philippines should adhere to the 1975 Joint Communique that upholds the One-China principle and warned that geographical proximity is no justification for interfering in Chinese affairs.
Taiwan’s reaction: Gratitude and validation
Taiwan, on the other hand, warmly welcomed Marcos’s remarks, interpreting them as a sign of international recognition of Taiwan’s vulnerability and the regional implications of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwanese officials emphasised that Marcos’s statement reflected the interconnected security environment in the Indo-Pacific and praised the Philippines for standing up for regional stability.
Philippines reaffirms position
Following China’s protest, the Philippines issued a formal clarification via its Presidential Communications Office and Department of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming its commitment to peace and regional stability.
“President Marcos reiterated the Philippines’ longstanding position on the importance of peace and stability in Taiwan and the peaceful settlement of differences,” read the statement.
The statement also highlighted the president’s concern for the over 100,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, citing geographic proximity as a factor that naturally draws the Philippines into any regional contingency. However, it emphasised that the Philippines upholds its One-China Policy as per the 1975 Philippines-China Joint Communique.
The Philippines, it said, “consistently advocated for dialogue, regional stability, and the peaceful settlement of differences” in all international forums.
Global media coverage: A diplomatic flashpoint
The Firstpost interview sparked widespread international media coverage, with major outlets reporting on the diplomatic rift caused by Marcos’s candid remarks.
Reuters reported that China had accused the Philippines of “playing with fire,” emphasising that geographical proximity and Filipino expatriates were not valid reasons for Manila to get involved in China’s internal affairs. It also mentioned that Beijing warned the Philippines to “earnestly adhere to the one-China principle”.
South China Morning Post provided extensive coverage, quoting Marcos’s remarks in full and highlighting China’s stern warning that “the Philippines is reneging on its promises” and “damaging China-Philippines relations”. The Hong Kong-based news outlet detailed previous maritime tensions, suggesting that Marcos’s statement has further complicated regional diplomacy.
Al Jazeera echoed these sentiments, summarising China’s sharp reaction and emphasising the broader implications for US-China-Philippines relations in the Indo-Pacific. The network noted that Manila’s moves—like lifting travel restrictions to Taiwan and joint naval drills with India—have already angered Beijing.
In its coverage, Bloomberg focussed on the geopolitical ramifications of the Marcos statement and the Philippines’ growing alignment with the United States and India.
According to the report, “President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s comments during a state visit to India have drawn sharp rebukes from China and further highlight the strategic tightrope Manila is walking as tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait.”
Bloomberg also pointed to the increased defence cooperation between the Philippines and India, including the planned procurement of more BrahMos missile systems, as a sign of shifting regional alliances.
You may watch full interview of President Marcos here:
Strategic context: Indo-Pacific tensions rise
Marcos’s statement comes at a time of escalating friction in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have clashed repeatedly over maritime sovereignty. The Philippine government has accused Beijing of aggressive manoeuvers, while the US has reaffirmed its defence commitments under the Mutual Defence Treaty.
In the Taiwan Strait, tensions continue to simmer as Beijing maintains its goal of reunification, including the use of military force if necessary. The US continues to supply arms to Taipei and has signalled support in case of conflict. The Philippines’ strategic location — near the Luzon Strait — makes it a critical player in any potential regional confrontation.
Adding to the complexity, Manila has been enhancing ties with both Washington and Taipei, including naval discussions with Taiwan and joint patrols with US and other regional allies.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s interview with Firstpost has catalySed a significant diplomatic moment in Asia, prompting strong responses from China and supportive remarks from Taiwan. While Manila stands by One-China Policy, the remarks underline the Philippines’ evolving strategic posture in the face of mounting regional challenges.
The incident has amplified Manila’s visibility on the global stage, even as it walks a diplomatic tightrope between asserting its sovereignty, protecting its citizens abroad and managing ties with two global superpowers. As the Indo-Pacific remains a flashpoint of geopolitical competition, the Philippines is increasingly at the centre of regional security dynamics.