THE Philippines apologized to China on Monday, days after it inadvertently mistakenly used the Taiwan logo in an event to thank China for donating 3,000 rifles and ammunition to the country’s Department of National Defense and Armed Forces.
A banner with the logos of the Philippine and Taiwanese defense ministries hung above the stage Thursday as Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Chinese ambassador Zhao Jianhua sat together to witness the weapons turnover.
“Military assistance gratis from the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China,” read the banner, with the wrong logo apparently not attracting attention at the time.
“The Department of National Defense committed a grievous but purely unintentional mistake of using a different logo on a banner to represent the Ministry of Defense of the People’s Republic of China,” said a Philippine defense ministry statement.
“We have issued an official apology to the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China,” it said, adding Philippine defense authorities and the military “strictly adhere” to Manila’s “One China Policy.”
The Philippines has no diplomatic ties with self-ruling Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.
The Chinese embassy could not be reached for comment.
Explaining such action as “unintentional” and a “technical lapse,” the Department of National Defense Public Affairs Service chief Arsenio Andolong admitted Monday such mistake was a “grievous” action using a wrong logo on a banner to represent the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China
“We have issued an official apology to the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China,” the DND said, adding the letter was addressed to Chinese ambassador to Manila Zhao Jianhua.
The event was to mark a “new era” of ties between the Philippines and Chinese militaries following years of tension over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
The friendships of both Manila and Beijing has been renewed shortly after the election victory of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Some of the government officials may have overlooked or may not be aware about the difference between the People’s Republic of China and its breakaway group, the Republic of China or also known as Taiwan, defense and diplomatic observers said.
Despite the “One China Policy,” Manila has consular/economic ties with Taiwan through its representative offices such as the Manila Economic and Cultural office there; and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) here, respectively.
“We are fully cognizant and grateful for the support that the government of the People’s Republic of China has been providing us,” the DND said.
It reiterated the DND and the Armed Forces “strictly” adhere to the One China policy,” it said.
The DND expressed hope this incident would not affect bilateral ties.
China and Taiwan have not issued any statement thus far.
China has donated $3.3 million worth of weapons to the Philippines to help the country fight against terrorism and criminality.
The Philippines, a military ally of the United States for decades, is trying under President Rodrigo Duterte to build warmer relations with China.
The weapons from China were the second batch to be delivered to the Philippinesthis year to help Duterte fight Islamist militants who have been occupying parts of the southern city of Marawi since May.
The two neighbors had long been at loggerheads over disputed islands and waters in the South China Sea, though Duterte has sought to play down the issue as he seeks more trade and investment from Beijing. With AFP