Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday (August 11, 2025) his country would inevitably be drawn “kicking and screaming” into any war over Taiwan due to its proximity to the self-ruled island and the presence of large numbers of Filipino workers there, despite China’s strong protest over such remarks.
Mr. Marcos also told a news conference that the Philippines’ coast guard, Navy and other vessels defending its territorial interests in the South China Sea would never back down and would stand their ground in the contested waters after the Chinese coast guard on Monday (August 11, 2025) staged dangerous blocking manoeuvres and used a powerful water cannon to try to drive away Philippine vessels from the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal.
