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China-Philippines relations: Marcos Jnr says South China Sea ‘keeps him up at night’
- China and the Philippines are at odds over the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over almost the entire area
- The two countries vowed to resolve maritime disagreements through ‘friendly consultation’ during Marcos Jnr’s visit to Beijing earlier this month
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said on Wednesday that tension in the disputed South China Sea “keeps him up at night”, but his country was committed to peace despite Beijing’s territorial claims.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Marcos Jnr said his nation was watching as a “bystander” whenever tensions rise after Chinese or US warships cross the region.
“If something goes wrong here we are going to suffer,” he said.
02:43
China, Philippines hope to peacefully resolve South China Sea territorial disputes
China, Philippines hope to peacefully resolve South China Sea territorial disputes
The situation “keeps you up at night, keeps you up in the day, keeps you up most of the time,” said Marcos jnr, who discussed the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing earlier this month.
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“It’s very dynamic, it is constantly in flux. So you have to pay attention to it to make sure that you are you are at least aware of the present situation so that you’re able to respond.”
China and the Philippines are at odds over the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over almost the entire area despite an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
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