China warns PH over Taiwan plan to open Cebu representative office

Metro Manila, Philippines –  China has warned the Philippines against taking steps that could damage bilateral relations after Taiwan confirmed plans to open a representative office in Cebu.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday, Sept. 16, urged Manila to adhere to its One China policy after Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung confirmed preparations for a second representative office in the Philippines. 

“We also urge the Philippine side to abide by the one-China principle with concrete actions,” Guo said, calling on Manila to “refrain from taking any steps that could harm China-Philippines relations.”

Guo also accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of seeking what Beijing described as “diplomatic breakthroughs” and advancing a separatist agenda through closer relations with other countries. 

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and objects to official diplomatic engagements between Taipei and other governments.

In a Taipei Times report, Taiwan confirmed that it is preparing to establish a representative office in Cebu, which would be its second in the Philippines after its existing Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Metro Manila.

Lin said the Cebu office would provide services to travelers and business people in the central and southern Philippines, where there are Taiwanese expatriates, tourists and businesses. He did not give a date for its opening.

The Taiwanese foreign minister also linked the planned office to expanding economic ties between Manila and Taipei.

Taiwan has proposed a Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor that would connect with the Luzon Economic Corridor backed by the Philippines, United States, and Japan. 

The initiative is aimed at facilitating the movement of people, goods and capital and developing more resilient supply chains. 

Lin described the Philippines as an important partner because of its proximity to Taiwan. 

The TECO in Makati serves as Taipei’s representative office in the country in the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

The office traces its establishment to 1975, when the Pacific Economic and Cultural Center replaced Taiwan’s former embassy after Manila shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing. It adopted the TECO name in December 1989.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated last month that the Philippines continues to adhere to the One China policy even as it maintains commercial ties with Taiwan.

“We have been doing business with Taiwan for a very long time since they are a very close neighbor,” Marcos said during a Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines forum on Aug. 14.

He said these partnerships would continue but stressed that they remain within the One China policy.