The long-raging dispute in the South China Sea has been keeping President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. "up at night, at day, and most of the time."
He made the revelation during a dialogue with World Economic Forum President Borge Brende in Davaos, Switzerland.
"It keeps you up at night, it keeps you up in the day, it keeps you up most of the time," Marcos said when Brende asked him if the current situation in the undispute waters keeps him up at night.
“It’s very dynamic, it’s constantly in flux, so you have to pay attention to it and you are at least aware of the present situation so you’re able to respond properly,” Marcos added.
He explained that the Philippines is "at the very frontline” in cross-trade tensions between China and the United States.
“Whenever these tensions increase, we’re watching as bystanders and if something goes wrong here, we are going to suffer,” the President said.
Asked whether the South China Sea was raised with Chinese President Xi Jinping on his first state visit to Beijing early this month, Marcos said, "There is no way to avoid it."
"We described it in diplomatic language as one part of our relationship but it is an important and unavoidable issue. We cannot just sweep it under the rug and pretend it’s not happening," the President said.
“It is unavoidable to speak about that. I would not be doing my job if I did not bring up these issues with President Xi when I had the opportunity,” he added.
Beijing has been claiming sovereignty over the area despite a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague that its claims have no legal basis.
This has brought more tensions between the Philippines and China.
Last month, the Department of National Defense ordered the military to strengthen its presence in the South China Sea after monitoring “Chinese activities” in disputed waters close to a strategic Philippine-held island.
