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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte hits Marcos' foreign policy

Duterte hits Marcos' foreign policy

Published Feb 19, 2026 02:52 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte hit President Marcos​' administration's foreign policy, alleging that it is putting the country in the middle of the US-China rivalry.
​In her message prior to announcing her 2028 presidential bid, Duterte apologized to the Filipino people for some of Marcos' policies.
"Patawad kung wala tayong malinaw at tunay na independent foreign policy (I apologize if we do not have a clear and real independent foreign policy)," the Vice President said.
"Kung kaya’t tila tayo'y naiipit sa tunggaliang namamagitan sa mga super powers tulad ng Tsina at Estados Unidos (That's why it seems like we're stuck in the middle of rivalries between the superpowers, such as China and the US)," she added.
On multiple occasions in the past, President Marcos said his administration is pursuing a foreign policy that is independent from any country and one that does not choose sides between the US-China rivalry.
With the US, the Philippines has bolstered its military alliance in the face of China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea; while with China, the country is strengthening its people-to-people and cultural ties as both sides have asserted that the sea dispute is not the sum of their relations.

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VICE PRESIDENT SARA DUTERTE Sara Duterte President Marcos Bongbong Marcos foreign policy PH-China ph-us
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