Malacañang on Tuesday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s foreign policy direction were not unexpected, characterizing them as consistent with the Duterte family’s pro-China stance.

“Yes. The President said we expect that from the Dutertes because they are pro-China and the President is pro-Philippines,” said Palace Press Briefer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a briefing.

The statement came after the Vice President questioned the Marcos administration’s strengthened alliance with the United States, particularly the decision to allow the positioning of US missile systems such as the Typhon launcher in the Philippines — a move strongly opposed by China.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s father, had previously distanced the country from its traditional alliance with the US and fostered closer ties with China. In 2021, he downplayed the 2016 Arbitral Award favoring the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, calling it “just a piece of paper.”

In a recent speech in Australia, the younger Duterte criticized the current administration’s foreign policy, which President Marcos has described as “a friend to all, enemy to none.”

“You should be friends with everyone. Do not pick sides,” the Vice President said, suggesting that the Philippines should assert the 2016 arbitral ruling against China through diplomatic channels, but not at the expense of maintaining a neutral foreign policy.

“Our problem in the West Philippine Sea does not define our entire relationship with China,” she added. “So, there is no reason for you to lean toward the US. That is not independent foreign policy.”

President Marcos has repeatedly asserted that while the Philippines seeks peace, it will firmly defend its sovereignty.

“We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic, we continue to defend our territory, and we continue to protect our people,” he said.

Marcos also issued a warning to those harassing Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, stressing that while the country avoids conflict, it will defend its maritime rights.

“We do not want a fight. But don’t harass our fishermen. Don’t block us in our own territory. We will fight for that,” he said.

This comes amid increased tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese vessels have used aggressive tactics — including dangerous ramming, water cannon blasts, and devices targeting the hearing of Filipino personnel — to block resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.

The Philippine government has since lodged multiple diplomatic protests against China’s actions.