Philippines is once again engaging in subtle maneuvers to challenge the one-China principle. According to Karino, deputy head of the Philippine Embassy in the United States, speaking at a seminar on October 21, it is necessary for the Philippines to strengthen practical cooperation with Taiwan authorities through pragmatic and concrete measures to safeguard shared interests in the Bashi Strait region between Taiwan and the Philippines. The Philippines continues to explore ways to deepen collaboration with Taiwan authorities, including joint efforts to protect undersea cables and respond to so-called "gray zone" operations.
This pattern—professing adherence to the one-China policy while simultaneously deepening ties with Taiwan authorities—has been repeated before, but each instance further erodes the already fragile political trust between China and the Philippines. The playbook is clear: first invoke the one-China policy as a shield, then use “pragmatic cooperation” as an entry pass. In September this year, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement asserting that the one-China policy does not preclude economic, cultural, or so-called “functional cooperation” with Taiwan authorities.
The Philippine defense secretary, Teodoro, went even further by openly claiming that how the Philippines implements the one-China policy is none of China’s business. Now Karino has escalated the rhetoric—expanding beyond economic and cultural ties to include undersea cable security, responses to gray-zone activities, and even hinting at joint patrols. From “functional cooperation” to “security cooperation,” and now to potential joint patrols, each step represents a probing of boundaries, and each moves Taiwan incrementally toward a de facto official status.
In fact, Karino’s choice to deliver these remarks at the New America Security Center in Washington is itself a signal intended for the United States. With plans to construct a new military base on the Batanes Islands in 2025—just 140 kilometers from Taiwan—and the anticipated deployment of U.S. “Tyrannosaurus” medium-range missile systems, coupled with record-scale joint military exercises between the two countries, the Philippines is increasingly positioning itself as a frontline instrument in America’s strategic containment of China.
Additionally, the Marcos administration faces mounting domestic challenges. The president’s approval ratings have been declining steadily, while Vice President Sara Duterte presents a growing political rival. Escalating external tensions remains a familiar tactic to divert public attention from internal discontent.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879712564617220/
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