Marcos ‘as concerned as one can possibly be’ amid China’s provocation in South China Sea

WHITE HOUSE WELCOME. US President Joe Biden guides PH President Marcos through the West Wing colonnade on their way to the Oval Office at the White House in Washington D.C. on May 1, 2023. (MALACAÑANG Photo)

WASHINGTON D.C., United States — Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday expressed apprehension over China’s continued acts of aggression in the South China Sea.

He said he is “as concerned as one can possibly be” about the situation.

When asked how he viewed the issue, the Chief Executive said he was “as concerned as you could possibly be. It is one of the major issues that we have to face back home,” he answered.

When queried if he believed that collaborating with the United States would get the Philippines closer to protecting the region, the President said both countries are just carrying on the ties that already bind one with the other.

“Well, cooperation with the United States certainly is just something that we are building upon that has been going on for many, many, many decades. And we just keep going,” he said.

Marcos issued the remark following the near-collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels off Spratlys on April 23.

A Chinese coast guard ship cut off a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists in the disputed South China Sea, causing a near-crash.

READ: Chinese, Philippine vessels in ‘David and Goliath’ near-crash

The President earlier said he had taken up this incident with China.

He added he had followed up on the creation of a direct communication channel between the two countries’ foreign ministers to address the dispute in the area.

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