"Whether we like it or not", a conflict over Taiwan will drag the Philippines into the picture "kicking and screaming'', President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. explained after China protested his recent statement.

"I don’t know what they are talking about. Playing with fire? I was just stating facts... We do not want to go to war. But I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be drawn, whether we like it or not. Kicking and screaming. We will be drawn and dragged into that mess," Marcos told reporters in a press conference on Monday.

Last Friday, the Foreign Ministry of China "lodged a serious protest" after Marcos told the local media in India that "there is no way" the Philippines will not be drawn into conflict in case a war broke out between the United States and China over Taiwan.

On Friday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged "the Philippines to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the spirit of China-Philippines Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations, and refrain from playing fire on issues bearing on China’s core interests".

Marcos expressed belief that this is the reason China recently increased their activities in the West Philippine Sea.

"I think because of the narrative coming out about playing with fire and being provocative and all of that, that is why there is an increase in the activities in the West Philippine Sea," he said.

On the same day when China lodged its protest, retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell, from Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation Project Myoushou posted in his X (twitter) account, "a huge number of Chinese ships in the Philippines exclusive economic zone".

Powell said based on the automatic information system (AIS) there seven China Coast Guard ships and 31 maritime militia vessels monitored "including on both sides of the Batanes Island in the North."

"That's just the ones broadcasting--there are almost certainly more", he said.

Although the Philippine does not want war, Marcos noted that the country "will have to plan for it already".

"I hope it doesn't happen. I hope it doesn't. But if it does, we have to plan for it already. And that's what I was talking about. How do we get our people out? How do we protect them if there is war since it is near us," he said.

"We'll have to do something. So, inevitably, despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody anywhere, war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines kicking and screaming into the conflict. That is what I was trying to say," he added. DMS