China warns Philippines over Taiwan remarks amid rising tensions
Beijing warns Manila to stop ‘playing with fire’ after Marcos signals potential Taiwan conflict involvement.
China has sharply criticised Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr after he suggested his country would be drawn into a potential conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan.
During a state visit to India this week, Marcos said the Philippines’ geographic proximity and the large Filipino community in Taiwan meant the country would be forced to get involved in the event of war
there is an all-out war, then we will be drawn into it,” Marcos told Indian broadcaster Firstpost. “There are many, many Filipino nationals in Taiwan and that would be immediately a humanitarian problem.”
In response, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement on Friday, warning Manila not to “play with fire” and urging it to uphold the one China principle.
“Geographical proximity and large overseas populations are not excuses for interfering in others’ internal affairs,” the statement read.