Says PH-US task force on SCS won’t heighten tensions with Beijing
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Chinese President Xi Jinping of “meaningful partnership and cooperation” in the region as China assumed chairmanship of the 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Mr. Marcos approached the Chinese leader at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, where South Korean President Lee Jae-myung formally handed over hosting duties to Xi at the close of the 2025 summit.
“I congratulated President Xi Jinping as China assumes the APEC Chairmanship in 2026 and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to partnership and meaningful cooperation in our region,” Mr. Marcos said in a social media post.
The President’s gesture was seen as a balancing act – maintaining dialogue with Beijing even as tensions between the two countries remained high over China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
In an interiview during the sidelines of the APEC Summit yesterday, Mr. Marcos expressed confidence the new Philippines–United States task force for the South China Sea will not worsen the l tension between Manila and Beijing.
“It’s basically organizing ourselves into a more cohesive unit in terms of the protection of the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the West Philippine Sea for us,” the President said.
“It will not heighten tensions because it’s not something new. There’s nothing new being done. Tensions only heighten when someone tries something new,” he added.
Last week, President Marcos assailed Beijing’s unilateral plan to establish a so-called nature reserve in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a maritime feature within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Mr. Marcos did not directly name China but said Manila is deeply concerned over “dangerous maneuvers and coercive actions” that interfere with legitimate Philippine activities in the WPS.
As this developed, the President also held bilateral meetings with other leaders at the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Korea.
Mr. Marcos and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung reaffirmed their countries’ deep strategic partnership, agreeing to expand cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and transnational crime prevention.
The two leaders reviewed the progress of the Korea-Philippines Strategic Partnership, which celebrated its first anniversary this year, and committed to elevate it to “a new level of cooperation and mutual support.”
Both agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the defense industry, shipbuilding and infrastructure development, alongside efforts to facilitate smoother operations of Korean companies in the Philippines, according to a news release by the South Korean government.
The meeting also reaffirmed the significance of the Korea-Philippines Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – which will mark its first anniversary later this year – in boosting economic exchanges and investments.
Mr. Marcos and Chilean President Gabriel Boric also agreed to accelerate the signing of the Philippines-Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a landmark free trade deal that would be the Philippines’ first in Latin America.
The President pushed to deepen economic and political cooperation with Chile, citing the countries’ “shared heritage and cultural affinity” as a solid foundation for stronger ties.
The Philippines hosted the third round of negotiations for the deal in October.
The bilateral meeting came as the Philippines and Chile prepare to celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
