President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signaled that a recalibration of Philippine-China relations may be inevitable amid shifting global geopolitical dynamics, while reaffirming the country’s commitment to peace amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Marcos said, “We never want war. Our foreign policy is very, very simple. It’s peace and the national interest.”
Marcos explained that rising global tensions are driving a broader restructuring of international systems.
He cited remarks by Singapore Prime Minister Wong on the need to “withdraw, redraw, all of our… legal relationships in terms of international law,” highlighting that these shifts are likely to have lasting effects and require the establishment of a “new normal.”
Despite long-standing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, the President said the Philippines continues to differentiate these issues from economic engagement with China.
“Many, many investments… still, of the big programs here of the government are coming from China,” he said.
He also cited China’s ongoing support in critical areas such as fertilizer supply, emphasizing that Beijing has not leveraged territorial disputes to interfere with trade relations.
Discussions on the joint development of gas resources in disputed areas are ongoing, though territorial disagreements continue to present challenges.
Marcos suggested that the current global context may provide an impetus for both sides to reach an agreement, even as the Philippines maintains its claims in the West Philippine Sea, a region that Beijing also claims in full despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling favoring Manila.
Amid the conflict in the Middle East, which supplies the majority of the Philippines’ oil imports, Marcos highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure energy security.
He confirmed that the Philippines is exploring fuel supply from Russia, a non-traditional trading partner, as part of measures to secure crude oil access.
“Basically, we are trying anything, everything to secure supply because that’s the one thing that we can do about. The pricing is going to be a much more difficult challenge because everyone is a price taker when it comes to oil,” he said.
The President characterized the Philippines as “watching, waiting, hoping and praying” for a swift resolution to global crises, noting that the government is focused on protecting national interests while maintaining economic and energy stability at home.
He stressed that Manila’s foreign policy will remain centered on peace, economic engagement, and prudent management of the country’s strategic and trade relationships.
