SINGAPORE – President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. emphasized that he does not work for any powerful countries, including the United States and China.

Marcos made the remark during his bilateral meeting on Friday with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte as they both made a stand in upholding international rules-based order in the pursuit of peace and security.

The Philippines and China are at odds over the West Philippine Sea while Lithuania has the same issue with Russia.

“Over a hundred of years that we have been in contact in informal trade that has been going on. It’s still not balanced…All we want really, is the promotion of peace and the national interest,” Marcos said.

“I don’t work for Beijing, I don’t work for Washington, I don’t work for Moscow. I work for Manila. I work for the Philippines and that’s what I need to promote,” he added.

Marcos said some countries have made alliances with other nations in order to provide a stronger voice in support of the law, and in support of sovereignty.

“And that we promote peace, that’s what we are trying to promote,” Marcos said.

Lithuania support

In response, Simonyte said she fully supports Marcos’ stance.

“Absolutely. I think that, you know, small states matter. That will be my message tomorrow on the panel but not only small states matter, international law matter because this is a safety network for small states,” she said.

Marcos stressed the principles remain the same and that the Philippines promote what is based in international law and rules-based order. He also said the world has changed in a way that “you can no longer isolate” the effects of (war) in Russia, around the world.

“It’s almost impossible but now it is now regional issues, they eventually impact the unexpected places which are very, very far away,” Marcos said.

Among the topics the two leaders discussed were political cooperation, economic cooperation, regional and global issues, including the Indo-Pacific region.

Marcos on Friday called on the US and China to manage their rivalry to maintain peace and stability in the region.

He made the call during his keynote address at the 2024 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense summit.

”China’s determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region is permanent. At the same time, the stabilizing presence of America is crucial to regional peace. It’s never a choice. Both countries are important,” Marcos said.

”The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage that rivalry in a responsible manner,” he added. —KG, GMA Integrated News