Senator Imee Marcos has disclosed her seven-point plan strengthening the Philippine-United States foreign policy relations during a roundtable forum in Washington D.C. this week and called on American counterparts not to make the Philippines “choose between the US and China.”

Marcos emphasized that the Philippines, and its Southeast Asian neighbors, have been calling for a “rational approach” in relations between Washington and Beijing to prevent a return to the “melodrama” of the Cold War.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations head participated at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum also attended by renowed think tanks like the Federal US Institute for Peace, the US-ASEAN Business Council, the Center for a New American Security and the Asia Foundation, some embassines, companies and universities.

“Do not make us choose between the U.S. and China,” Marcos said as she clarifies the direction Philippine foreign relations should take with two of the world’s dominant superpowers under the leadership of her brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Part of “The Plan”, she said, is to “re-examine,” rather than revise, the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

She said the Plan seeks to ensure how the language of both accords is to be implemented, as well as to assess the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement’s (EDCA) delivery of development aid as promised.

The Plan, Marcos said, also pursues increased military assistance and support for local defense contractors. With the recent formation of multilateral defense arrangements as the AUKUS and the QUAD, she said the project also calls for a deeper study of their consequences for the Philippines and existing regional groupings.

She also said The Plan also seeks new trade opportunities in deep-sea fishing and in the production and export of Philippine metals and semiconductor chips through a “Green Metals Initiative” and cooperation under the U.S.’s CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

At the same time, Marcos took the opportunity to thank the USAID and the US-Philippines Society for their constant assistance in disaster relief and recovery, as she sought improvements in social protection and public safety nets.

Likewise, the senator called for more professional exchanges between the Philippines and the US, particularly of health care workers, teachers and academics, for better training, a transfer of know-how, and potential job creation.

Marcos also used the venue to affirm the strong alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. but said they should not inhibit engagement with China.

According to the lawmaker, The Plan hopes to expand its bilateral relations with China through confidence-building measures, joint development, and finalizing a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Marcos’ remarks echo the recent statements made by the President during his speech and bilateral talks with U.S. President Joe Biden at the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.