The Philippines would not pick sides between "superpower" countries.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. emphasized this when asked during a press conference with international media in Brussels, Belgium if the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would welcome the European Union to compete with either world superpowers United States or China.
It was brought up because ASEAN is portrayed as a "swing state" between the big parts of the United States, China, and Europe.
"Believe me, we would rather not have these tensions in our part of the world. That is the last thing that we would like," the President said.
Marcos stressed that the Philippines would never want to be in the middle of any tensions between its two long-time allies.
"And we --- the Philippines for our part has taken an independent policy and we absolutely refuse to go back to the situation of the Cold War where we have to pick sides in terms of who the superpower is that we are aligned with," he stressed.
The President said that the Philippines' foreign policy is guided by a commitment to peace and the pursuit of the national interest. Thus, the country will shepherd for peace when dealing with issues concerning the region or other regions.
He also echoed his previous statement that the Asia-Pacific Region should be the one deciding for itself.
"In terms of that competition, as I said, we have to find, I think all of us Member States, especially in ASEAN, have to find our own way," he said.
"However, I think I would not be overstepping by saying that we agree in the sense that we are committed to the idea that the future of the Asia-Pacific region should be decided by Asia-Pacific countries and not any other power outside of our area," the President added.
Marcos went to Belgium to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit as the ASEAN coordinator. He is expected to be back in the country on Thursday night, Dec. 15.