MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stood firm that the trilateral agreement between the Philippines, the US and Japan will not affect investments from China.

In a press conference on the sidelines of his trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, President Marcos said he does not see any connection with the two issues.

“I don’t see how the two are connected. China will continue whatever investments it chooses to make,” President Marcos said.

“This is separate from any proposed or potential Chinese investments in the Philippines. How do I see it, how will it affect? I don’t see that it will affect, one way or the other,” he added.

President Marcos made the remarks when asked how the outpour of investments from the trilateral meeting will affect China’s economic influence in the Philippines.

The chief executive sat in a trilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Washington, DC, to strengthen the country’s economic and maritime cooperation.

President Marcos’ administration is expecting to secure over US$100 billion in investments from the trilateral meeting over the next five years. (PND)