Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not ask U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene with China over tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said, rejecting suggestions that the Philippine leader had sought Washington’s help against Beijing.
In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Romualdez said Trump’s commitment to discuss the West Philippine Sea with Chinese President Xi Jinping came after Marcos updated him on recent developments during their phone conversation, not because the Philippine leader had asked him to do so.
“Happened, nag-usap sila at tinanong, kumusta na si President Trump. So sabi naman ni President Marcos, okay lang, but we’re holding the fort. As you know, marami kaming mga challenges dito, minention niya ‘yung nangyari sa West Philippine Sea, very fresh nga naman ‘yun, eh. But sabi naman ni President Trump, ‘Let me mention that too.’ So, sumbong is not the right word,” said Romualdez.
[Translation: They spoke, and President Trump asked how President Marcos was doing. President Marcos replied that things were okay and that they were ‘holding the fort’ despite the many challenges. He mentioned the recent incident in the West Philippine Sea because it had just happened. President Trump then said, ‘Let me mention that too.’ So, describing it as ‘telling on someone’ is not the right way to characterize the conversation.]
Romualdez said Trump’s response reflected the strength of the Philippines’ alliance with the United States under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
“But because we are both facing the same challenges that we want to have a free and open Indo-Pacific, especially the freedom of navigation, so it’s perfect that President Trump, who obviously is the head of the superpower, will have the opportunity to discuss it with President Xi when he goes to Washington in September,” the envoy said.
Romualdez also described the phone conversation as “very fruitful and very timely,” saying Trump had long wanted to speak with Marcos and that the call came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Manila for the ASEAN meetings.
