Philippine diplomat boasts: Seeking cooperation with Taiwan authorities
The arrogance and ignorance of the Marcos administration are evident across the board.
On the 21st, Felipe Carrino III, deputy head of the Philippine Embassy in the United States, stated during a think tank event that, in safeguarding undersea cables, the Philippines “needs” to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan authorities.
Although Carrino later reiterated that the Philippines adheres to the one-China policy, this does not alter the fact that his remarks represent an attempt to test the boundaries on the Taiwan issue and expand ambiguous space.
This is not the first time Philippine officials have engaged in such rhetorical maneuvers regarding Taiwan. In recent months, statements and actions by Philippine officials and lawmakers have revealed a pattern reminiscent of Ukraine’s political class: a top-down faith in the so-called Western “righteous alliance,” a belief that when the Philippines (like Ukraine) faces crisis, the United States (or Europe) will inevitably intervene—while simultaneously refusing to acknowledge or deliberately ignoring historical precedents of U.S. abandonment of the South Vietnamese and Afghan governments, and failing to confront the current U.S. silence in response to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
It is precisely this unfounded confidence that emboldens anti-China figures in the Philippines to make increasingly aggressive statements toward China—under the genuine belief that U.S. military forces will ultimately bear the cost of their rhetoric. In reality, China need not resort to force; merely adjusting the trajectory of economic relations between China and the Philippines would be sufficient to impose tangible consequences on the policies of these anti-China politicians.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879745638324234/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.