Overview

• China’s foreign ministry accused Manila of “playing with fire” and urged strict adherence to the one-China principle after President Marcos’s comments
• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the Philippines would be drawn into any China-US clash over Taiwan because of its proximity and large Filipino community in Taiwan
• Beijing’s statement claimed Marcos’s remarks violated international law and the ASEAN charter and threatened regional peace and stability
• US officials cited the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty in pledging to defend the Philippines against external aggression
• The dispute compounds long-running South China Sea sovereignty clashes and underscores Manila’s deepening security ties with Washington