Marcos on US-China 'competition': We'd rather not have these tensions

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines maintains an independent foreign policy and will not engage in picking sides that could create tension among nations.

"About the competition between the United States and China and if it’s that what we want. Believe me, we would rather not have these tensions in our part of the world. That is the last thing that we would like," Marcos said when asked in a news conference whether he would welcome European Union joining the competition with US and China for ASEAN's attention.

"The Philippines for our part has taken an independent policy and we absolutely refuse to go back to the situation of the Cold War where we have to pick sides in terms of who the super power is that we are aligned with,” he added.

Marcos pointed out that the country's foreign policy is for peace and for the national interest.

"In terms of that competition, as I said, I think all of us member states especially in ASEAN, have to find our own way. However, I think I would not be overstepping by saying that we agree in the sense that we are committed to the idea that the future of the Asia-Pacific region should be decided by Asia-Pacific countries and not any other power outside of our area," he said,

Marcos was in the US in September for official business, a trip seen by some lawmakers as moves to fortify military and economic ties between the two countries.—LDF, GMA Integrated News