Senators on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 welcomed the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) move to prepare for China’s possible invasion of Taiwan, which could affect close to 300,000 Filipinos that are currently living in the self-governing island.
This was after AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. ordered troops at the Northern Luzon Command (NolCom) on Tuesday, to “prepare for any eventuality” such as the invasion of Taiwan in the face of growing regional tension over China’s aggression.
Ukraine as a template
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said there is no ruling out the possibility that China would be emboldened to follow what Russia has done to Ukraine.
“We have about 300,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan, which should be our first concern,” Gatchalian said in a press briefing.
“That’s important if ever an invasion happens. And I think it will happen, because it happened to Ukraine; China would be embolden to do it to Taiwan, as well,” the senator warned.
“…Ukraine might be a template. So, if another country invaded Ukraine, others might be emboldened to do it as well. This is true not only in China but also in other countries,” he added.
But in this case, he said China, which treats Taiwan as a renegade province, clearly wants to gain power over the self-ruled democratic island.
“So in my personal analysis, I think China will be emboldened to do it because it already happened to Ukraine,” he pointed out.
Beijing had not ruled out the possibility of using force to put the island territory under its domain and control. On Tuesday, it sent its army, navy, air and rocket forces to surround Taipei. China claims the military drills were aimed at practicing a blockade.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said the government itself should be ready to repatriate Filipinos from the island should the invasion happen.
“The government should be ready, as it is ready, for any eventuality. Kung kailangan i-repatriate ang ating mga kababayan doon (If there’s a need to repatriate our citizens there), then that is what we will do,” Revilla said.
“Dapat matiyak ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa sa ating mga kababayan na nasa Taiwan (We need to ensure the safety of our fellowmen in Taiwan),” the reelectionist senator stressed.
Sen. Joel Villanueva also said he agrees with Brawner’s stand on the issue: “We subscribe to the saying that: It is better to prepare than to repair.”
“We agree with General Brawner, and we defer to his better judgement as head of the Armed Forces that is mandated to protect our people and the State. We are confident that our military is ready to defend our territory under any circumstance,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva stressed the need for the government to ensure that the safety and security of Filipinos should always be “top priority.”
“Thus, we also call on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to always be ready and proactive in protecting our kababayans in Taiwan,” the lawmaker stressed.
“We have the AKSYON fund under the DMW which can be used in case there is a need for emergency repatriation,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the AFP chief should clarify why the Philippines is concerned with the China-Taiwan issue.
But Pimentel said he also agrees that the government needs to focus on “rescuing Filipinos in Taiwan” should an armed hostility breaks.