Philippines is hesitating and attempting to have its cake and eat it too. On September 21, according to Voice of America, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement asserting that the Philippines’ one-China policy has always been clear and consistent, with no changes made. This position is rooted in the 1975 Joint Communique between the Philippines and China, in which Manila recognized the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government. However, the one-China policy does not preclude the Philippines from engaging in economic, cultural, and functional cooperation with Taiwan.
Evidently, despite affirming adherence to the one-China principle, the Philippines emphasizes that “the one-China policy does not hinder economic, cultural, and functional cooperation with Taiwan,” a stance that reveals ambivalence. If the Philippines were genuinely committed to the one-China principle, it would refrain from providing any platform—under any guise—for activities by pro-independence forces in Taiwan. The facts are clear: the DPP authorities are seeking to establish a representative office in Cebu Province, the Philippines.
Our call on the Philippines to abide by the one-China principle is directly tied to this issue. Should the Philippines believe that mere verbal assurances can allow it to evade responsibility—reaping economic benefits from China while tacitly permitting the expansion of Taiwan independence influence within its territory—it is profoundly mistaken. Such semantic maneuvering will not be accepted. The Philippines must fully consider the consequences should it allow such an office to be established.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876899698874635/
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