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By Micah McCartney
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Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. doubled down in his country's long-running maritime dispute with China on Thursday, vowing not to "cede one square inch" of territory claimed by Beijing.
Marcos also said the Philippines would inevitably be involved in a potential war over Taiwan, prompting Beijing to warn the U.S. ally against "playing with fire."
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment.
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Why It Matters
Marcos's remarks, given to the Indian news site Firstpost, came during a four-day state visit to India—his first since taking office three years ago. Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced they were elevating ties to the level of a strategic partnership and would strengthen cooperation in a range of areas, including security.
Both countries are locked in territorial disputes with China: India over the mountainous border in the Himalayas, and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the busy waterway, where Chinese coast guard vessels, research ships, and paramilitary forces have encroached into Manila's exclusive economic zone—sometimes resulting in clashes.
Territorial Disputes
"Let me say it again, the Philippines will not cede one square inch of our territory. We will not give up the exercise of our sovereign rights. Ever," Marcos told Firstpost.
Asked whether the Philippines, which last year became the first country to purchase India's BrahMos cruise missiles, was eyeing additional arms purchases from New Delhi, the president replied: "Everything's on the table."
"The Philippines is in the midst of a modernizationof our military…So we are looking to see what's the most suitable for our defense needs," Marcos said. "Let me be clear though: we are not girding up for war. We are simply reacting to the challenges that we are facing."
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The Philippines is in the midst of a $35 billion military modernization campaign. Marcos said the upgraded equipment makes the country more interoperable with its allies, chiefly the United States.
As important as weapons procurement, he added, was defense cooperation with key partners that have a stake in the Indo-Pacific—partners such as India. On Monday, on the first day of his visit, ships of the Indian navy joined their first-ever joint exercise with the Philippines in the South China Sea, within the Southeast Asian country's maritime zone.
Marcos said the Philippines is "not against anyone." However, he said tensions "have increased."
Adding to regional tensions is China's claim to Taiwan. Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to bring the self-ruled democracy under its control, raising fears of a conflict that could draw in the U.S. and allied militaries.
The Philippines' northernmost province of Batanes lies about 100 miles from the southern tip of Taiwan. The country also hosts U.S. troops and weapons systems at several shared bases, which would likely come into play in any regional conflict.
War Over Taiwan
"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.
"If there is all-out war, then we will be drawn into it, and I assure you with the greatest hesitation. But we will have to defend our territory and our sovereignty," he added.
The "most considerable concern" at the outbreak of war would be the roughly 160,000 Filipino migrant workers currently living in Taiwan, Marcos said. "That would be immediately a humanitarian problem, because we will have to get involved…or find a way to go in there and to bring our people home."
China Hits Back
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a public statement: "The Philippines…has kept making wrong and provocative remarks and actions, kept fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, and kept harming the China-Philippines relations."
"China firmly opposes this. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and embassy in the Philippines have lodged serious protests with the Philippine side."
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