A Filipino official deployed to Taiwan has questioned a statement made by China's ambassador in Manila when the latter linked American military's access to Philippine military sites to the employment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the self-governing island. Silvestro Bello, chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), on Monday asked China why it is now calling out the Philippines for expanding US troops' access to Philippine military sites despite the fact that there are also areas across Asia that have the same set up. "Hindi lang naman dito sa Pilipinas ginagawa ng US 'yan (It's not only in the Philippines that the US is doing that," Bello said in an interview with ANC. "Why is China not complaining and ni-rerelate sya sa situation ng ating (and it is relating the situation to our) OFWs? Our OFWs are there to make a living, decent living," he added. Chinese Ambassador to PH Huang Xilian (left) and MECO chairman Silvestre Bello (right) (Photo courtesy of Amb. Huang's and Bello's Facebook pages)

Bello's remark came after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian issued what Filipino lawmakers saw as a veiled threat against the Filipino workers. "The 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," Huang said in a prepared English speech at the recent 8th Manila Forum. His office eventually claimed he was misquoted and misinterpreted. Bello said Taiwan is very independent from China in terms of hiring workers. "China definitely has nothing to do with the employment of our OFWs," he said. The official also assured OFWs that their "welfare, interest and protection" are "well protected" in the self-ruled island, which is, in fact, even looking for more Filipino workers.