Marcos: Philippines won't be 'mere pawn' in China-US power showdown

Manila Bulletin

The Philippines refuses to be reduced to a mere bystander as geopolitical tensions surrounding world superpowers China and the United States of America (USA) continue, President Marcos said.  Marcos said this as he addressed the Australian think tank Lowy Institute on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne on Monday, March 4. (Video Courtesy of RTVM)  READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/4/marcos-philippines-won-t-be-mere-pawn-in-china-us-power-showdown  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

Transcript

00:00 The Philippines, of course, understands that widening geopolitical polarities around the world

00:07 and the sharpening strategic competition between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America

00:14 have become a reality permeating the regional strategic environment.

00:19 But we caution against overemphasizing this reality.

00:24 Such undue emphasis tends to subsume the legitimate rights and interests of countries like the Philippines, Australia,

00:33 and other ASEAN member states into the interests of the so-called "major countries,"

00:39 as if we are mere pawns with no strategic agency.

00:44 It also obscures our judgment.

00:47 It distracts us from calling out aggressive, unilateral, illegal, and unlawful actions for what they are—

00:54 attacks against the rule of international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

01:02 Indeed, there are those who sometimes justify such provocations under the pretext of geopolitics

01:10 and mischaracterize the remedies availed of by the agreed-as-mere tactics in this grand strategic game.

01:19 If we are to successfully navigate the treacherous waters brought about by this recent geopolitical flux,

01:29 we need to clarify and we need to have foresight.

01:34 The future of this region will be shaped not by one or two, but by many actors.

01:41 And they will each demand that their voices be heard individually and collectively, as indeed they should be.

01:49 Thus, the Philippines begins any conversation regarding great power competition

01:58 with a strong rejection of any subordination of our distinct national interests

02:05 and denial of our sovereignty and strategic agency.

02:10 Ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge the undeniable importance of the People's Republic of China

02:17 and the United States of America—

02:22 sorry—

02:28 to the security situation and the economic evolution of this region and of the world.

02:34 We must deal with both of them constructively.

02:38 Thank you.

02:40 [END]

02:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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