MANILA, Philippines –The US-China tensions were not tackled at the Cabinet meeting led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, Malacañang said.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the government is being “careful” about matters concerning international relations.
“Hindi po siya kasama sa agenda kanina (It was not included in this morning’s agenda),” Cruz-Angeles said in a press briefing when asked if the Cabinet discussed the tension between US and China at the meeting Friday morning.
“Ukol sa international relations, parati tayong nagi-ingat. Suffice it to say na mini-monitor ng matindi ang sitwasyon. Wala tayong reaksyon o statement ukol dun,” she added.
(When it comes to international relations, we are being careful. Suffice it to say. We are monitoring the situation. We do not have a reaction or statement regarding that.)
Asked if Marcos has given orders concerning Filipinos in Taiwan should tensions escalate, Cruz-Angeles said: “Sa ngayon, mino-monitor natin ang sitwasyon. Magre-react na lang po tayo matapos ang masusing paga-aral at tsaka subject to the information that we get from that monitoring.”
(Right now, we are monitoring the situation. So we will only react after we study the situation, which is subject to the information we get from that monitoring.)
“Before that, the President will not yet issue a statement. Tingnan natin kung ano ‘yung pangyayari. Nagi-ingat po tayo dito sa ganitong mga klaseng sitwasyon,” Cruz-Angeles said.
(Before that, the President will not yet issue a statement. So let’s see what will happen. We are all just being careful with these kinds of situations.)
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
Following Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan, China’s foreign ministry said Pelosi’s visit severely impacted the political foundations of China-US relations.
Marcos is set to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday, but Cruz-Angeles said there is no information yet regarding the agenda of the meeting.