Taipei has rejected China’s warning that it would be “dangerous” to tinker with its Taiwan issue amid its maritime dispute with the Philippines over some parts of the West Philippine Sea.
The Taiwan Economic and Cooperation Office yesterday sent a copy of its newsletter which contained its “response to false claims by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.”
“TECO in the Philippines solemnly reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a modern democratic country that actively defends its democratic system and respects human rights and the rule of law.
Neither democratic Taiwan nor autocratic People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other,” it said.
“The Chinese Communist Party regime has never governed Taiwan, and Taiwan is not a part of the PRC. No distorted narrative regarding Taiwan’s sovereign status can change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait or internationally recognized objective facts.”
The Chinese Embassy in Manila earlier said the Taiwan question “is not and should never become an issue between China and the Philippines.”
It said its issue with the self-governing island “is purely an internal affair and does not brook any external interference.”
China had raised alarm after the United States, Manila’s treaty ally, announced plans to build a second port on Batanes Island, just 200 kilometers away from Taiwan’s southern end across the Taiwan Strait.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines also announced plans to hold Balikatan military exercises with the US and other allied troops in the country’s northernmost province.