Nananatili ang pagpapairal ng independent foreign policy ng Pilipinas pagtitiyak ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“And I always wanted to make it clear, because there is a narrative out there that is going around that we are at the beck and call, practically, of the United States when it comes to these foreign policy decisions, especially surrounding the South China Sea. But let me make it very, very clear. The Philippines acts for its own interest, and the decisions that we make when it comes to foreign policy are decisions that we make because we believe, and are convinced, and know that it is in the national interest,” sagot ni Marcos sa tanong matapos ang kanyang talumpati sa Lowy Institute sa Melbourne.
Nagbalik sa Australia si Marcos para sa ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.
Binanggit pa niya na hindi na umuubra ang “bipolar cold war formula” kung saan ang mga maliliit na bansa ay sumasandig sa US o sa Russia noon.
“So, it really goes back to a rejection by the Philippines of the— a regression into the old bipolar cold war formula. Wherein the smaller countries such as the Philippines were basically forced into choosing, you choose to be with the United States, so with the Soviet Union. And in a way it is a simpler time and it was easier perhaps for countries to make that decision. That is no longer relevant. That no longer applies,” diin niya.
Pagtitiyak din ng Punong Ehekutibo na napakahalaga pa rin ng China sa Pilipinas, gayundin sa US.
“We need for it to continue to be a force for the good, we cannot allow it to overtake, as I said in my remarks, to overtake what the essential priorities of the Philippines. Our foreign policy is grounded and anchored on the continuing promotion and work for peace, and the continuing promotion and work for the national interest of the Philippines. And that is what guides us, that is the principle that we follow, and I think it is the right one,” dagdag pa niya.