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Marcos: PH not a puppet state, acts in defense of national interest

Philippine News Agency

By Darryl John Esguerra
August 7, 2025, 4:04 pm

NEW DELHI -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pushed back against China's narrative that the Philippines is provoking instability in the region at the behest of more powerful nations, saying the country is acting on its own to uphold sovereignty and defend national interest.

In an interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost on Wednesday, Marcos dismissed insinuations that Manila's deepening security ties with countries like the United States and India make it a mere proxy.

"That would imply we do not have our own agency, that we are just bystanders told what to do. That is certainly not the case," Marcos said.

"It does, I suppose, serve that narrative — that we are acting as a... I don't know... as a puppet state to the United States, to all the allies of the United States. I think it doesn't take very much reading and discussing to see very, very clearly, very, very quickly that that's simply not true."

Marcos said the Philippines' actions are not driven by foreign interests, but by a constitutional mandate to protect its own territory and people.

"What we do in the Philippines is because it is our duty as officials, as leaders, as citizens to defend our country," he said.

Marcos noted that the country's strategic partnerships are based on shared values, mutual respect, and a common interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

"Friends like India, the United States, Australia, South Korea, Japan — who are also feeling that they must defend their own territory and sovereignty — are joining forces. Who are we to turn down such assistance and such help?"

The remark comes amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where repeated confrontations have occurred between Philippine vessels and Chinese coast guard and militia ships.

Beijing continues to assert sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea through its so-called "nine-dash line," now updated to a "ten-dash line" — overlapping with the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China's expansive claims and upholding Manila's sovereign rights over areas including Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal.

China has rejected the ruling and intensified its presence in disputed waters, including the use of water cannons and blocking resupply missions.

Marcos' administration has adopted a firmer stance compared to its predecessor, filing diplomatic protests and bolstering security ties with like-minded countries to deter aggression and uphold international law.

Asked if the repeated near-collisions at sea could escalate into a broader conflict, Marcos said war is unlikely — but miscalculations are a serious concern.

"That is precisely what we are worried about," he said. "You can make a mistake. Some guy pushes the wrong button, navigation goes wrong... and before you know it, it's a shooting war. That is what we want to avoid," he said.

The President emphasized that closer coordination with allies and open channels of communication — including with China — are critical to reducing the risk of escalation and preserving regional peace. (PNA)