PH monitors developments in China-Taiwan relations
Published Apr 11, 2023 05:17 am
The Philippines is currently monitoring the developments in China-Taiwan relations as any escalation of tension "would have really adverse repercussions".
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique made the pronouncement early Tuesday morning (Manila time) while he was in Washington, D.C. for a series of high-level meetings with US officials, including his counterpart, Antony Blinken.
Amid China's military intimidation against Taiwan that just witnessed [a three-day Chinese war games](https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/11/china-ends-taiwan-war-games-aimed-at-sealing-off-island) around its self-governing island, Manalo said the Philippines has "always been very concerned if tensions escalate," considering its proximity to the country as well as the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos living there.
"There [have] always been tensions. But occasionally, they tend to erupt and become more intense," Manalo said at a forum organized by Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo answers several questions during a forum organized by CSIS in Washington, D.C.
Following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's recent visit to the US that angered China and prompted it to conduct military drills, Manalo said the government is "looking very carefully at all developments related to Taiwan." The diplomat then hoped that the current tension would be lowered, like how the two East Asian countries managed it in August when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which was also disapproved by Beijing. "We've always urged the parties concerned to try and, let's say, manage these tensions by having wherever possible dialogue in order to prevent these tensions from escalating into something more," he said. "Because our view is that not only would it affect the Philippines, but it would affect the entire region," he added. Manalo also urged China and the US, two of the world's superpowers, to "manage their strategic rivalry" through dialogue and "transparent and sincere engagement, where possible" to ensure long term peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. He said the present and the future relationship between Beijing and Washington "is a defining feature of this wretched regional ecosystem as responsible powers." Meanwhile, Manalo did not close the door for the Philippines to host military weaponry from the US for Taiwan's defense at the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country. It was because so far, the Philippines and the US just identified the EDCA sites and there will still be discussions on terms of reference and the type of activities that both sides must agree on. "So at this stage, it's really very difficult to respond to questions like that," Manalo said.
DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo answers several questions during a forum organized by CSIS in Washington, D.C.
Following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's recent visit to the US that angered China and prompted it to conduct military drills, Manalo said the government is "looking very carefully at all developments related to Taiwan." The diplomat then hoped that the current tension would be lowered, like how the two East Asian countries managed it in August when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which was also disapproved by Beijing. "We've always urged the parties concerned to try and, let's say, manage these tensions by having wherever possible dialogue in order to prevent these tensions from escalating into something more," he said. "Because our view is that not only would it affect the Philippines, but it would affect the entire region," he added. Manalo also urged China and the US, two of the world's superpowers, to "manage their strategic rivalry" through dialogue and "transparent and sincere engagement, where possible" to ensure long term peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. He said the present and the future relationship between Beijing and Washington "is a defining feature of this wretched regional ecosystem as responsible powers." Meanwhile, Manalo did not close the door for the Philippines to host military weaponry from the US for Taiwan's defense at the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites across the country. It was because so far, the Philippines and the US just identified the EDCA sites and there will still be discussions on terms of reference and the type of activities that both sides must agree on. "So at this stage, it's really very difficult to respond to questions like that," Manalo said.