PBBM: PH can’t stay out of Taiwan conflict due to proximity, OFWs

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

While Marcos expressed hesitation over the possibility of getting drawn into regional conflict, he emphasized that national sovereignty and humanitarian responsibilities would compel the Philippines to act. (PCO file photo)

NEW DELHI – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines would inevitably be affected in the event of a military conflict between China and the United States (US) over Taiwan, citing the country’s geographic proximity and the presence of thousands of Filipino workers on the self-ruled island.

“If there is a confrontation over Taiwan between China and the United States, there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it, simply because of our physical geographic location,” Marcos said in an interview with Indian media outlet Firstpost on Wednesday during his state visit to India.

“The large city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan is a 40-minute flight away from the capital of my province in northern Philippines, in Laoag. That’s how close it is.”

While Marcos expressed hesitation over the possibility of getting drawn into regional conflict, he emphasized that national sovereignty and humanitarian responsibilities would compel the Philippines to act.

“We will be drawn into it… with the greatest hesitation. But again, we will have to defend our territory and our sovereignty,” he said.

The President also raised concerns about the safety of Filipinos living and working in Taiwan, who would be at immediate risk should hostilities erupt.

“There are many, many Filipino nationals in Taiwan, and that would be immediately a humanitarian problem,” Marcos said. “We will have to go in there, or find a way to go in there, and to bring our people home.

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He warned that any repatriation effort would be extremely difficult in a live combat zone.

“It would not be a small problem by any means,” Marcos said.

There are an estimated 160,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan, many of whom are employed in electronics factories and domestic work.

The Philippines has historically maintained a one-China policy while sustaining robust economic and people-to-people ties with Taiwan.