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“Playing with fire? I was just stating facts.”

This was the response of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to China after the latter lodged “serious protests” against the Philippines over Marcos’ statement that the country could be drawn into a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan.

During a press conference, Marcos admitted that he was somewhat perplexed that his remarks were characterized as “playing with fire.”

“I don’t know what they are talking about. Playing with fire? I was just stating facts. We do not want to go to war. But I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be dragged in whether we like it or not. Kicking and screaming,” Marcos said.

“We will be drawn into that mess. Whatever you do… Let’s be realistic. Hope is not a plan. I hope it doesn’t happen,” he added.

Marcos, during a media interview, stated that “there is no way the Philippines can stay out of it” if an all-out war erupts in the Taiwan Strait due to its geographic location.

He also acknowledged the presence of around 200,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

It was pointed out that “geographic proximity” and “the large number of Filipinos in Taiwan” should “not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries.”

The Philippines does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a self-governing island separated from mainland China since 1949.

However, the Philippines maintains a de facto embassy in Taiwan, called the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).

Marcos emphasized that the Philippine government must prepare for the possibility of war.

“That’s what I was talking about. How do we evacuate our people? How do we protect them if conflict arises? It’s close to us. What will we do? We can’t just let things happen without a plan,” he said.

“We must take action. Despite our strong desire to avoid confrontation, a war over Taiwan would inevitably pull the Philippines into the conflict. That’s what I meant. I don’t understand the confusion,” Marcos added.

Taiwan Strait

The Taiwan Strait is a 180-kilometer-wide waterway separating mainland China and the island of Taiwan. It has been a significant geopolitical and economic zone for centuries, serving as a key trade route and a focal point of tensions, particularly since the Chinese Civil War (1945–1949) when the defeated Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan. Today, it remains a strategically important and politically sensitive region, with ongoing disputes over sovereignty and maritime rights.

Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO)

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) is a quasi-official representative office of the Philippines in Taiwan, established in 1975 after the Philippines shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. MECO facilitates unofficial relations, promoting economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. Despite lacking formal diplomatic status, it handles consular services, trade, and investment matters for Filipinos in Taiwan.