South China Sea: Philippines taking ‘dangerous path’ with President Marcos Jnr’s anti-China moves, sister Imee says

Accepting defence and maritime security donations from foreign powers would be ‘the fuel to never-ending conflict’, Senator Imee Marcos said

‘Let’s not be hot-headed’, she said in response to her brother’s creation of a National Maritime Council, calling for reason to prevail over emotion

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A Chinese coastguard vessel is seen firing water cannons towards Philippine vessel Unaizah May 4 on a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:08pm, 3 Apr 2024Updated: 11:03am, 4 Apr 2024

Senator Imee Marcos, sister to President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, has voiced her disagreement with her brother’s recent efforts to counter China’s aggression in the South China Sea, saying that it’s leading the country down a “dangerous path”.

In response to a March 23 incident in the disputed waters in which three Philippine Navy sailors were injured after Chinese Coast Guard personnel fired water cannons at their vessel, Marcos Jnr signed an executive order creating a National Maritime Council (NMC) with a mandate to “strengthen the Philippines’ maritime security and maritime domain awareness”.

Under the directive, the Philippine president authorised the council to accept “donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts” from allies to improve maritime security.

But in a statement released on Monday, Senator Marcos referenced the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, describing defence and maritime security donations as “the fuel to never-ending conflict”.

The lawmaker, who chairs the Philippine Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, went on to warn that every action that may put Filipinos in danger is a “gross irresponsibility [that] must be avoided at all costs.”

“Let’s not be hasty, let’s not be hot-headed so that we can take care of the welfare of our people,” she said.

Senator Imee Marcos (left) with her brother, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, after he delivered his second state of the nation address at the Philippine House of Representatives in July last year. Photo: AP

“Emotion rather than reason has prevailed in our maritime conflict with China and is leading us down a dangerous path that will cost us more than just Filipino pride.”

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