Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 2022) — The Philippine government will continue to adhere to the One China Policy, Manila’s top diplomat said Saturday as he tackled the ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait with his counterpart from Beijing.
This was among the regional issues covered during the bilateral meeting of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang earlier in the day, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
“Secretary Manalo reaffirmed the Philippines’ adherence to the One China Policy, while at the same time expressing concern over the escalating tensions across the Taiwan Strait,” the DFA said in a statement recapping their meeting.
“He also emphasized that the Philippines pursues an independent foreign policy, which seeks to ensure stability and prosperity in the region,” it added.
Under the One China Policy, the Philippine government shall recognize the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China—which claims Taiwan as its own territory.
READ: In a separate statement, the Philippine gov’t reaffirms its “adherence to the One China Policy while expressing concern over the escalating across the Taiwan strait.” | @TristanNodalo pic.twitter.com/3CvFA8dc5S
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) April 22, 2023
Earlier this month, the East Asian giant launched military drills around the island nation after its president met with a top United States official in California.
Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian, meanwhile, warned that the new sites under the Philippines’ Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US may be used to “interfere” in the situation in the Taiwan Strait—something the government has denied.
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