Marcos: PH not a staging point for military action

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippines will not be utilized as a staging point for any kind of military action.

Marcos emphasized that the Philippines' goal is to work for peace and will not encourage any provocative actions by any country that could involve the Philippines.

The President's main concern is the peace and safety of Filipinos, and he believes the best role for the Philippines in the region is to lower tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

He also stressed the importance of keeping ASEAN solid, strong, and united to lead the political fortunes of countries in Asia.

During his visit to the US, Marcos aims to clarify the Philippines' position in the region and discuss with US President Joe Biden how the Mutual Defense Treaty needs to evolve given the changing conditions.

Marcos noted that China has become more dominant in the region while the US has become less so, and other Asian states have also changed their global positions.