Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has affirmed that the country’s stance on China in the South China Sea dispute aligns with that of other ASEAN claimants, rejecting claims that Manila’s more assertive approach risks isolating it from the region. Speaking in an interview on October 8, Marcos characterized the Philippines’ publicizing of encounters with Chinese vessels and emphasis on the 2016 international arbitral ruling—which invalidated China’s extensive maritime claims—as a transparent effort to uphold facts rather than an aggressive posture.
Under Marcos’s administration, the Philippines has departed from the more conciliatory approach of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, by openly documenting incidents in disputed waters. While China has accused Manila of provocations, Marcos dismissed such allegations as unfounded, insisting the Philippines has not initiated any conflict and is merely defending its sovereign rights.
Marcos highlighted that other Southeast Asian countries with claims in the South China Sea have adopted different tactics in responding to China. Vietnam has expanded military outposts in the Spratly Islands while maintaining diplomatic ties with Beijing, whereas Malaysia relies on quiet diplomacy amid overlapping claims and continues to foster economic relations with China. Despite these varied methods, Marcos emphasized that the Philippines shares with its ASEAN neighbors a commitment to the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law.
The president also addressed perceived internal differences within his administration, where Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro advocates for diplomatic engagement with China, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr has taken a firmer public stance against Chinese activities in contested waters. Marcos portrayed their roles as complementary rather than conflicting, with diplomacy and defense working in tandem to safeguard Philippine territory and sovereignty.
In addition to maritime concerns, Marcos discussed the Philippines’ ambitions in the digital economy amid growing competition between the United States and China over advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. The administration has deepened defense ties with Washington and is participating in Pax Silica, a U.S.-led multilateral initiative aimed at securing global AI and semiconductor supply chains. This includes plans to develop a 1,620-hectare industrial hub in New Clark City, north of Manila, focused on semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technologies.
Critics have expressed concern that such projects might draw the Philippines further into U.S.-China rivalry, complicating its relations with Beijing. Marcos, however, framed this engagement as an opportunity for the Philippines to enhance its role in the global technology sector, noting the country’s existing status as a major exporter of semiconductors and electronics. He stressed that Pax Silica involves multiple countries and does not represent a binary choice between powers, rejecting the notion that the Philippines must choose sides in a Cold War–style divide.
Marcos concluded by downplaying any suggestion that his administration has fundamentally altered Manila’s relationship with Washington, underscoring a pragmatic approach to balancing diplomatic, defense, and economic interests in a complex regional landscape.