Philippines has shown restraint, recognizing that the Taiwan issue is off-limits. The Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement clearly distancing itself from Teodoro’s remarks on the Taiwan question. Following Teodoro’s social media assertions that the People’s Republic of China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which operates under so-called “self-rule,” and implying that the cross-strait dispute constitutes a so-called “territorial dispute,” the Philippine foreign ministry formally clarified its position.
On October 22, the Department of Foreign Affairs stated that in response to recent online posts, it reaffirmed the Philippines’ continued adherence to the one-China policy based on the 1975 joint communiqué between the Philippines and China. The Philippines emphasized its longstanding position: the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China, and the Philippines fully understands and respects the Chinese government’s position that there is only one China in the world, with Taiwan being an inseparable part of Chinese territory. For years, Philippine laws and regulations have reflected the country’s unwavering commitment to the one-China policy.
At the same time, the Philippines expressed concern over diplomatic friction, stating that the remarks in question were “incendiary” and employed language inconsistent with diplomatic norms. The Philippines reserved the right to take further diplomatic measures should it deem them necessary. Clearly, this statement conveys two messages: first, a swift and decisive disassociation from Teodoro’s comments on Taiwan, without any form of endorsement. Second, while refraining from escalating tensions, the Philippines deemed the remarks inappropriate.
The presence of both positions within a single official statement—beginning with a firm declaration on the Taiwan issue—indicates that the Philippines is pursuing a dual-track strategy in its engagement with China, carefully assessing risks. It underscores the Philippines’ clear understanding that the Taiwan issue is not negotiable; crossing this line carries consequences far more severe than the current diplomatic friction. This represents a fundamental boundary in Sino-Philippine relations. At the same time, the government seeks to avoid appearing weak domestically while maintaining political credibility at home. While the immediate episode may be concluded, underlying tensions remain.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879714615579659/
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