MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Amid tension in the South China Sea, President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. on Monday told the military that the Philippines should 鈥渁djust accordingly鈥� to the situation.
Marcos said the Philippines faces a 鈥渕ore complex foreign situation,鈥� even more complicated than the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
He said the challenge changed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) mission as it needed to adjust to the situation.
鈥淓ven if there is a war in Ukraine, here in the South China Sea, it is said to be the most difficult problem and the most complicated problem,鈥� the President said in Mandaue City.
(Even though there鈥檚 a war in Ukraine, they say that the problem in the South China Sea remains to be the most difficult and most complicated issue.)
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I say the mission of the AFP, your mission, has changed. And we need to keep a close eye on our ex who doesn鈥檛 need to think too much,鈥� he added.
(That鈥檚 why I say that the mission of the AFP has changed and we need to closely monitor something that we didn鈥檛 have to worry about before.)
Marcos noted how the Philippines did not have to worry about the 鈥渢hreat and the intensification of the competition between the superpowers鈥� and maintained peace and understanding with all of its neighbors.
鈥淣ow things have begun to change and we must adjust accordingly,鈥� he said.
Marcos had said the South China Sea dispute
He explained that the Philippines is 鈥渁t the very frontline鈥� in cross-trade tensions between China and the United States.
鈥淲henever these tensions increase, we鈥檙e watching as bystanders and if something goes wrong here, we are going to suffer,鈥� the President said.