The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Sunday, April 16, accused reports of misquoting or misinterpreting the remarks made by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian about the fate of some 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan amid the intensified Philippine-United States (US) military ties.
(Photo from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian's Facebook page)
While the embassy “appreciated” the “extensive coverage” of Huang’s speech at the 8th Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations over the weekend, it said that the envoy’s words have been taken “out of context.”
“Unfortunately some misquoted or misinterpreted Ambassador Huang's remarks or simply took part of the Ambassador's words out of context,” the embassy added.
“Please look at the original text of the speech,” it stressed.
This statement came after Senator Risa Hontiveros asked Malacañang to recall the Chinese envoy after he “advised” the Philippines against supporting Taiwan if the country “cares genuinely” about the OFWs in the self-governing island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims ownership of.
“He has no business being a diplomat if he is unable to engage with us in a respectful and dignified manner. He, along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave,” the senator said, adding that the Philippines “will never interfere” with China’s issue with Taiwan.
For weeks, Huang had been adamant that the four new sites that US military forces would have access to under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) would be used by the US to support Taiwan’s bid for independence.
“Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan Independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” the ambassador had said during the forum.
Signed in 2014, the EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build facilities, and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels.
Permanent bases, however, are prohibited.
The five existing EDCA locations are Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu, and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City.
The new EDCA sites earlier identified by both the Philippines and the US are in Balabac Island in Palawan and in Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.
The last three are in the northern portion of Luzon, facing Taiwan.