Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippines would inevitably be drawn into any conflict over Taiwan due to its geographic proximity and the presence of approximately 200,000 Filipino workers on the island. Marcos emphasized that the country would be pulled into such a war "kicking and screaming," underscoring the inevitability of involvement despite efforts to avoid it. He also reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to defending its interests in the South China Sea, asserting that Philippine forces would not back down. Following these remarks, China accused the Philippines of "playing with fire" and later said that it had misinterpreted Marcos's comments. Marcos clarified that Beijing misunderstood his statements, which were meant to highlight the unavoidable consequences of a Taiwan conflict rather than signal any intent to provoke or escalate tensions. The exchange highlights ongoing regional sensitivities amid rising tensions between China, Taiwan, and the United States.