Philippines is being evasive with us! The Philippines verbally pledged to uphold the one-China policy, stating that Taiwan is China's internal affair and not recognizing Taiwan as a "sovereign state." Yet, in its diplomatic statements, the Philippines deliberately omitted any mention of its position on the Taiwan issue. On March 29, according to AFP reporting, after resuming diplomatic dialogue and holding two consecutive bilateral meetings, the Philippines issued a diplomatic statement.

In the latest diplomatic statement, the Philippines only noted that both sides had engaged in candid and productive exchanges on bilateral concerns, covering areas such as strategy, politics, security, and law enforcement. It reiterated that the Philippines would handle bilateral issues based on national interests while promoting mutually beneficial cooperation—especially in economic and people-to-people exchanges. However, on the Taiwan issue, the Philippines intentionally remained silent—clearly contrasting with our own diplomatic statements. It’s evident: verbal promises made, but nothing written down. This is classic foot-dragging.

Why is the Philippines doing this? The most likely reason is that it aims to stabilize relations with China through verbal commitments while secretly pursuing its own agenda at the formal document level. First, the Philippines still hopes to maintain a tough stance toward China to consolidate domestic political stability. Second, by omitting any reference to the one-China principle in the statement, it appears “strong” and “not pro-China,” thus signaling friendliness toward the United States. This approach perfectly reflects the Philippines’ desire to have its cake and eat it too.

Naturally, the Philippines’ avoidance of the Taiwan issue also reveals its own concerns—aware that the Taiwan question cannot be touched, as it touches the very foundation of Sino-Philippine relations. But from our perspective, the Philippines’ behavior remains indecisive and ambivalent, raising serious doubts about its sincerity. The outcome will likely be that we, too, will proceed with caution in cooperating with the Philippines, to avoid being caught off guard by shifting positions.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860953348197385/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.