Beijing irked with Marcos over Taiwan, warns Manila not to ‘play with fire’
China on Tuesday said it had summoned the Philippine ambassador after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he looked forward to working with Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te.
“This morning, Assistant Minister Nong Rong summoned the ambassador of the Philippines to China to make solemn representations and urge the Philippine side to give the Chinese side a responsible explanation,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press conference.
“The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes” Marcos’s remarks, Mao said.
But Malacanang reiterated the Department of Foreign Affairs’ stance in recognizing the government’s One China policy, following Beijing’s opposition.
Presidential Communication Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters in a Viber message to “refer to the DFA statement released early today.”
Earlier, the DFA said that President Marcos’ congratulatory remark to Taiwan’s Lai was the Chief Executive’s way of thanking the island nation for hosting more than 20,000 overseas Filipino workers.
“The message of President Marcos congratulating the new president was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs and holding a successful democratic process. Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy,” DFA said.
Independence-leaning Lai eased to a comfortable victory in Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday.
China regards the democratic island as part of its territory and has vowed to seize it, by force if necessary.
Beijing does not maintain diplomatic ties with countries that recognize Taiwan and opposes official communications with Taipei by foreign powers.
In a Monday social media post, Mr. Marcos congratulated Lai on his election and said he looked forward to “close collaboration” with him.
The remarks “are a serious violation of the One China Principle… a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side, and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs”, Mao said.
“We are telling the Philippine side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue… and to immediately stop its wrongful words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence,” she added.
“We advise President Marcos to read more to properly understand the history of the Taiwan issue so that he can draw the right conclusions.”
In a post on X on Monday night, the President congratulated the elected Taiwanese leader, saying he looks “forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead.”
The DFA reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to adhere to the “One-China Policy.”
In deference to that policy, the Philippines does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island which has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949.
But the Philippines maintains a de-facto embassy in Taiwan called the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
Lai immediately thanked Marcos for the message.
“Thank you, President @bongbongmarcos for your congratulations. I deeply value the enduring friendship between #Taiwan & the #Philippines,” Lai said in a statement on X.
“I look forward to enhancing our economic and people-to-people ties while championing democracy, peace & prosperity in the region,” he added.
Senator Imee Marcos, the President’s sister who heads the Senate committee on foreign relations, also emphasized that the Philippines continues to adhere to the One-China Policy.
Marcos, the committee chairperson said this is embodied in the Joint Communiqué.
Along with the One China Policy, she noted that the 1975 Joint Communique signed by her late father, President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and then Chinese foreign minister Zhou Enlai, also guarantees that the Philippine and Chinese governments “agree to settle all disputes by peaceful means… without resorting to the use or threat of force.” With AFP
