Philippine President Marcos Jr. said rising tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan were "very, very worrying" for the Philippines.

(AFP)

[Compile Lu Yongshan/Comprehensive Report] Philippine President Marcus Jr. told the British "Financial Times" that the heightened tension between the United States and China over the Taiwan issue is "very, very worrying" for the Philippines, but he emphasized that he expects the relationship between Manila and Washington to The military relationship between the two countries will be strengthened, and the Philippines will also strengthen defense cooperation with neighboring countries.

Marcus was interviewed when he participated in the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, and revealed that after the former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August, China carried out military exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan. The government has drawn up contingency plans to evacuate the 150,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan.

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Marcus Jr.'s comments underscored growing concern in the region about the risk of conflict in the Taiwan Strait, where China has increased the scope and scale of naval and air military operations in waters around Taiwan since last August.

Marcus Jr. also mentioned that China's provocative activities in the South China Sea have surged in recent months. "The incidents have been increasing. They blockade the area and sometimes intercept a Philippine vessel. respond to these events in certain ways".

Marcus Jr. said he raised the issues with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a visit to China earlier this month and that the Chinese response was "encouraging." Traditional fish farm.

But he also admitted that the Philippines has nothing to do against China's occupation of the disputed Scarborough Shoal in 2012 because of the unequal military strength of the two countries.

Washington has been pushing hard for closer security ties with Manila, and Marcus Jr. confirmed that military ties between the two countries will strengthen, with more U.S. troops and military assets rotating in the Philippines, and said a defense cooperation is under discussion between Japan and the Philippines Agreement, "We are trying to bring Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines together".