China Accuses Philippines of ‘Playing with Fire’ After Marcos Comments on Taiwan Conflict.
China condemned the Philippines on Friday for “playing with fire” following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement that the Southeast Asian nation could be drawn into any conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan.
Marcos made the remarks during a state visit to India, citing the Philippines’ close ties to Taiwan and the presence of a large Filipino community there as reasons for possible involvement in such a conflict.
In response, China’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying,
“‘Geographical proximity’ and ‘large overseas populations’ are not excuses for a country to interfere in the internal affairs of others. We urge the Philippines to earnestly adhere to the one-China principle … and refrain from playing with fire on issues concerning China’s core interests.”
The comments come amid rising tensions between Beijing and Manila over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where both nations have accused each other of aggressive maneuvers and sovereignty violations. The U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to defend the Philippines in the event of conflict.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, a claim rejected by Taipei.
When speaking to Indian media outlet Firstpost on Wednesday, Marcos said, “If there is an all-out war, then we will be drawn into it.” He added, “There are many, many Filipino nationals in Taiwan and that would be immediately a humanitarian problem. We will have to go in there, find a way to go in there, and find a way to bring our people home.”
China criticized these remarks, stating that such arguments “not only violate international law and the ASEAN charter, but also undermine regional peace and stability and the fundamental interests of [the Philippines’] own people.”
The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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