DND takes jab at Chinese envoy over Taiwan issue
Published Apr 15, 2023 09:26 am
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Saturday, April 15, took exception to the remarks issued by Chinese envoy Huang Xilian that the Philippines should stop meddling with China’s affairs in Taiwan lest it risks the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.
(Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian / File photo via Manila Bulletin)
“The Department of National Defense takes exception to the statement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian that the Philippines is meddling in the internal affairs of China concerning Taiwan,” DND Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
According to the defense official, the Philippines “observes” the One China Policy, a principle which claims Taiwan as part of China, although it “maintains” the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) principle of non-interference in approaching regional issues.
“We reiterate that our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the Filipinos living and working on the island,” Andolong noted.
At a forum in Manila on Friday, April 14, Huang advised the Philippine government to “unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire” by giving the United States access to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bases near Taiwan “if it cares genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs.”
The Philippine government recently announced the establishment of four additional sites for the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a 2014 security pact which allows the US to rotate its troops and preposition its equipment in AFP bases.
Two of the EDCA sites are identified at the Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan province, which is facing Taiwan in the northern Philippines.
China and US are clashing as the former insists that Taiwan is part of its territory, while the latter committed to defend the self-ruled island in case of an invasion.
But Andolong said the EDCA expansion was meant to improve the country’s defense capabilities amid the complexities of the regional security landscape, and will not be used for military offensives against any third-party country.
“The implementation of EDCA is not directed against any country and is in line with our efforts to modernize our (PH-US) alliance,” he added.
Further, Andolong also denied that the China-Taiwan sovereignty issue is “similar” to the context of rebellion in Mindanao in search for self-autonomy as claimed by Huang.
“We wish to emphasize that the issues are different from each other. The whole context and rich experience of our peace process in Mindanao, which allowed the participation of the international community (Malaysia, EU [European Union], Turkey, Japan, Brunei, Australia, Sweden, Norway, UK [United Kingdom], Germany, UN [United Nations] Organizations, JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency], and other international organizations), is aligned with the Philippines’ position of resolving disputes peacefully,” Andolong said.
He then reiterated the DND’s appeal to concerned parties and states “to adhere to the rule of law and diplomacy in managing differences.”
“The Philippines shall continue to advocate for peace, mutual respect and endeavor to protect and uphold our national and global interests,” Andolong concluded.
(Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian / File photo via Manila Bulletin)
“The Department of National Defense takes exception to the statement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian that the Philippines is meddling in the internal affairs of China concerning Taiwan,” DND Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
According to the defense official, the Philippines “observes” the One China Policy, a principle which claims Taiwan as part of China, although it “maintains” the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) principle of non-interference in approaching regional issues.
“We reiterate that our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the Filipinos living and working on the island,” Andolong noted.
At a forum in Manila on Friday, April 14, Huang advised the Philippine government to “unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire” by giving the United States access to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) bases near Taiwan “if it cares genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs.”
The Philippine government recently announced the establishment of four additional sites for the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), a 2014 security pact which allows the US to rotate its troops and preposition its equipment in AFP bases.
Two of the EDCA sites are identified at the Naval Base Camilo Osias and Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan province, which is facing Taiwan in the northern Philippines.
China and US are clashing as the former insists that Taiwan is part of its territory, while the latter committed to defend the self-ruled island in case of an invasion.
But Andolong said the EDCA expansion was meant to improve the country’s defense capabilities amid the complexities of the regional security landscape, and will not be used for military offensives against any third-party country.
“The implementation of EDCA is not directed against any country and is in line with our efforts to modernize our (PH-US) alliance,” he added.
Further, Andolong also denied that the China-Taiwan sovereignty issue is “similar” to the context of rebellion in Mindanao in search for self-autonomy as claimed by Huang.
“We wish to emphasize that the issues are different from each other. The whole context and rich experience of our peace process in Mindanao, which allowed the participation of the international community (Malaysia, EU [European Union], Turkey, Japan, Brunei, Australia, Sweden, Norway, UK [United Kingdom], Germany, UN [United Nations] Organizations, JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency], and other international organizations), is aligned with the Philippines’ position of resolving disputes peacefully,” Andolong said.
He then reiterated the DND’s appeal to concerned parties and states “to adhere to the rule of law and diplomacy in managing differences.”
“The Philippines shall continue to advocate for peace, mutual respect and endeavor to protect and uphold our national and global interests,” Andolong concluded.