Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 15) – China telling the Philippine government to oppose Taiwan independence if it “cares about its overseas workers” is a “threat” against the country and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), a lawmaker said.

“China seems to be issuing a threat not just against the Philippines as a country but to innocent OFWs who were obligated to work abroad to create better lives for their families,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers’ Party-list Rep. France Castro said Saturday.

In a forum on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian warned the Philippines that the United States, through the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), intends to interfere in the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

He said a third party should not meddle in the Taiwan issue. Yet Huang “advised” the country to oppose Taiwan independence.

“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” Xilian said.

READ: China tells PH to oppose ‘Taiwan independence,’ warns anew vs. EDCA sites

But according to Castro, the geopolitical objectives that the US is pursuing with the new EDCA sites, as well as China’s aggressive actions and militarization of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), must be stopped.

“The Philippines must chart a truly independent foreign policy and not one that is tied to one imperialist bully like the US or China,” she said.

READ: PH urges US, China to ‘manage rivalry’ amid rising tensions in Taiwan