TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Philippines will not allow offensive operations from its territory if China invades Taiwan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday.
He was responding to questions during a luncheon with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, the Manila Bulletin reported. He was asked whether he would allow the US military to launch offensive operations from bases in the Philippines.
The country would not be a belligerent nation in the region, but would only promote peace and stability, Marcos said. He added that allowing an attack from the Philippines against anyone contradicted its policy of defending regional peace and stability.
Marcos described decisions by the US and other countries as their own internal matters and part of their foreign policy, the Manila Bulletin reported. The Philippines is only interested in defending its own sovereign rights and territorial independence, he said.
The president also said that cooperation with Taiwan would continue as the two are close neighbors, per Liberty Times. The “one China policy” will remain an important principle governing relations with China and with Taiwan, he said.
As to talks with Japan about maritime borders east of Taiwan, Marcos described them as a bilateral process, but they would welcome hearing the views of other interested parties. He said there was no timetable for the talks, but he hoped Japan and the Philippines could reach an agreement before the end of the year, per Liberty Times.
