Vice President Sara Duterte has denied being aligned with any foreign power, dismissing the Palace’s remarks branding her as “pro-China” following her recent criticism of the Marcos administration’s foreign policy direction.
In a media interview on Wednesday, Duterte asserted that she does not favor any nation and emphasized the need for a balanced diplomatic approach.
“They’ve been pushing that narrative for a long time, that I’m pro-China. I’m not pro any country at all,” Duterte said, speaking in a mix of Filipino and English.
She maintained that the Philippines should strengthen ties with all nations and not focus solely on one ally. “What I always say is, we need to develop, we need to maintain, and we need to level up our relations with all countries, not just with China,” she said.
The tension stems from Duterte’s earlier remarks questioning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy, particularly in light of the Philippines’ growing alignment with the United States amid its territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.
“Why would you side with a superpower just because you have a problem with another one?” Duterte asked. “It’s like, have some dignity as a country.”
Her comments appear to be a pointed reminder of the country’s constitutional commitment to an independent foreign policy, which Duterte believes is being compromised.
