Marcos to China: Playing with fire? I just stated facts

''Playing with fire? I was just stating facts.''

This was the response of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to China after the latter had lodged "serious protests" against the Philippines over Marcos' statement that the country could be drawn into a conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan. 

During a press conference on Monday, Marcos admitted that he was a little bit perplexed that his remarks were characterized as “playing with fire.”

''I don’t know what they are talking about. Playing with fire? I was just stating facts. There… We do not want to go to war. But I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be indrawn, hihilaan tayo sa ayaw at gusto natin (We will be dragged whether we like it or not). Kicking and screaming,'' Marcos said. 

''We will be drawn and dragged into that mess. Whatever you do…Come on, let's be – huwag na tayong mag… Hope. I love this saying, hope is not a plan. I hope it doesn't happen. I hope it doesn't,'' he added. 

Marcos, in a media interview during his state visit to India, said "there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it" if an all-out war erupts in the Taiwan Strait due to its geographic location.

The Philippine leader also acknowledged the presence of around 200,000 Filipino workers on the self-ruling democratic island China claims as part of its territory.

Beijing, for its part, pointed out that "near geographic location” and “a large amount of Filipinos in Taiwan” should "not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries."

Manila does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island which has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949.

The Philippines, however, maintains a de-facto embassy in Taiwan, called the Manila Economic and Cultural Office or MECO.

In case a war arises, Marcos said the Philippine government should plan for it already. 

''And that's what I was talking about. How do we get our people out? How do we protect the – kung magkagulo – giyera na nga dito, eh malapit na sa atin. Anong gagawin natin? Okay lang, normal lang ‘yan, pababayaan na lang natin kung sino pasok-labas dito sa atin.' Hindi naman puwede ‘yun,'' he said. 

(If a conflict arises, in case there will be a war, it's near to us. What will we do? ''It's fine, it's normal, we just let whoever goes in an out of our country.'' That's not possible.)

''So, we'll have to do something. So, inevitably, despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody anywhere, war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines kicking and screaming into the conflict. That is what I was trying to say. That's why I don't understand,'' Marcos added. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News