Marcos: Beijing misinterpreted remarks on Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has rejected Beijing’s accusation that he was “playing with fire” with his recent statement on a possible outbreak of war between China and Taiwan, saying he may have been “misinterpreted for propaganda purposes.”

“I don’t know what they are talking about. Playing with fire? I was just stating facts,” Marcos said at a press conference yesterday. “We do not want to go to war.”

He said he was simply stating facts when he said in an interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost in New Delhi on Aug. 6 that Manila would be dragged “kicking and screaming” into any war in Taiwan – which would likely involve the US – and must prepare for it.

“I hope it doesn’t happen. I hope it doesn’t. But if it does, we have to plan for it already. And that’s what I was talking about. How do we get our people out? How do we protect the – if there is conflict – and the war is close to us. What we will do?” the President said.

“So, we’ll have to do something. So, inevitably, despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody anywhere, war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines kicking and screaming into the conflict. That is what I was trying to say,” he said.

Beijing has lodged a formal protest against Manila over Marcos’ comments.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin earlier said Marcos’ remarks ran counter to Manila’s commitment to the one-China policy, which recognizes Taiwan as part of Chinese territory.

“I’m a little bit perplexed why it would be characterized as such, as ‘playing with fire,’” Marcos said.

In making the comment that China found offensive, Marcos was replying to a question from Firstpost on whether he was open to allowing US resources and bases to be used to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

“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.