Marcos: We have in our family tree a Chinese pirate

MELBOURNE—While explaining the close ties between the Philippines and China, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. told an Australian forum that his family actually had "an infamous Chinese pirate who used to operate in the waters of the South China Sea."

In a question-and-answer session after addressing the Australia-based policy think tank Lowy Institute, Marcos was asked by executive director Dr. Michael Fullilove about China, the Asian power which is claiming even the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

"The relations that we have with China go back way beyond 1976, they go way beyond that for centuries. We have been trading with China. Archeological evidence shows that we have been trading with China for about 600 years now," Marcos said.

"If we’re to examine DNA, there are very few Filipinos with no Chinese DNA. My family actually makes much of the fact that we have within our family tree, an infamous Chinese pirate who used to operate within the waters of the then, South China Sea," he added.

Towards the end of the forum, Marcos even named the pirate as Limahong.

"I’ve learned a lot tonight including the value of clear thinking but also, I did not know that you had a pirate in your ancestry," Fullilove said as he was wrapping up the discussion.

"And I might say that it sounds more fun and romantic for you to have a pirate in yours than the convicts I have in mine," he added, drawing laughter from the audience.

To which, Marcos said, "I’m sure it wasn’t fun at that time. His name was Limahong."

"I think many people from the Philippines and China all know the notorious pirate who used to operate the Northern Philippines. That’s where we come from, my family comes from so, he must have landed one day," Marcos said to more laughter.

On a more serious note, Marcos said the Philippines and China have long been friends.

He said the Philippines was the first in Asia to have diplomatic ties with the people's republic in 1976.

"Well, until the declaration of the changes now of territorial definitions. We still have friendly relations with China but these issues never arose," Marcos said.

"And I would not mind very much at all if we could return to that same situation now, where we deal with each other as neighbors. We deal with each other and help one another," he added.

Marcos said he was part of the official delegation in 1974 to open discussions on diplomatic relations with China.

"That agreement was signed in 1976 and I happen to have been part of the original delegation in 1974– to an official delegation but it was an invitation from then Premier and Foreign Minister Zhou Enlai and it was to open the discussions on having diplomatic relations with China," Marcos said.

"We recognized immediately that China is an important neighbor, is an important partner and that we must deal with such an important neighbor and such an important partner," he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News