Senator Imee Marcos (Bibo Nueva Espa帽a/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday justified her brother鈥檚 decision not to address the West Philippine Sea (蜜桃工作室) issue at his second State of the Nation Address, arguing that it is important to avoid embarking on 鈥渁 hopeless word war.鈥�
Marcos, who heads the Senate committee on foreign relations, said that the issue between the Philippines and China in 蜜桃工作室 should be approached in a 鈥減ragmatic and prudent鈥� manner to 鈥渄e-escalate鈥� the growing tension between the two countries.
鈥淧erhaps that鈥檚 what the president [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] had in mind, that we all calm down, de-escalate tension in the West Philippine Sea and the Taiwan Strait,鈥� Marcos said at the Kapihan sa Senado.
鈥淣ot constantly talk about it and embark on a hopeless word war, but rather, to exercise the utmost restraint and tolerance and prudence, at the same time, opening as many lines of communication as possible and exploring all options available,鈥� she added.
During the Sona, the Chief Executive renewed his promise to 鈥減rotect our sovereign rights and preserve our territorial integrity in defense of a rules-based international order.鈥�
鈥淚t is also imperative that our nation remains intact and inviolable 鈥� our sovereignty preserved. With our national interests paramount, we will always pursue constant dialogue and diplomatic approaches to the resolution of any issue that may arise. So the initial results of our efforts inspire confidence. Let us continue to be relentless in our aspiration of peace and progress,鈥� he said in his speech.
In response, certain groups expressed dismay over his silence, but the senator claimed the country should open its communication lines and be 鈥渃reative and innovative鈥� in settling its differences with China.
鈥淵es, I think that鈥檚 the most important thing. Ang sabi kasi ng iba, let鈥檚 stop poking the panda. Napipikon tayo, pikon na pikon na sila, anong gagawin natin? Magkakapikunan tayo? Mag-iinitan ng ulo? Saan mauuwi 鈥榶an?鈥� Marcos stressed.
(Because, as the saying goes, Let鈥檚 stop poking the panda. If we are short-tempered and vice versa, what will we do? If we keep on angering one another, where will this go?)
鈥淚 think terrible, dangerous mistakes will be made if we carry on like this. And instead, we should be grown-up about all our resentments and our roiling angers. And instead, try to do the very best to de-escalate tension at every opportunity,鈥� she added.