Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 20) — An international law expert on Thursday said the Philippine government should at least stop deploying Filipino workers to Taiwan amid a possible war between the United States and China.
“In case of a shooting war, amongst the casualties in Taiwan will be Filipino workers. That’s inevitable in an armed conflict and that’s why I’m saying as early as now, if we cannot start repatriating our kababayans (countrymen) from Taiwan, we should at least stop further deployment,” lawyer Harry Roque told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
He also said the government should already have contingency plans for those who will be affected in case the conflict escalates.
This was Roque’s response when asked about the statement made by Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, who claimed the United States “intends to take advantage” of the new sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) amid rising tensions in Taiwan.
“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 [overseas Filipino workers],” Huang said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will speak to the Chinese envoy to hopefully clarify his recent remark about the situation of OFWs.
READ: Lost in translation? Marcos to speak to China envoy over remarks on Taiwan OFWs
Roque, who is currently in China, said he has spoken to leaders and Filipino journalists based there who have said a shooting war will most likely happen between Washington and Beijing.
While the Philippines is not obliged to take sides, the country may still end up being a military target of China due to the EDCA sites across the country, he noted.
In effect, communities near EDCA sites and OFWs in Taiwan will be the collateral damage, he added.
Roque urged the Marcos administration to review the existing EDCA to reflect the current situation.
OFWs in Taiwan ‘well-protected,’ prepared
Manila Economic and Cultural Office chairman and resident representative Silvestre Bello III asserted that China has nothing to do with the employment of OFWs in the self-ruled island.
“China has nothing to do with the employment of our OFWs in Taiwan. It’s Taiwan who has employers who hire our OFWs,” the former Labor secretary said on CNN Philippines’ News Night.Bello added that Filipinos in Taiwan are “well-protected” and are not affected by tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
Asked about a contingency plan in case of an eventuality that will affect OFWs in Taiwan, Bello said, “It has been there even before we came in –10, 15 years ago. Alam na nila situation. Alam na nila gagawin nila [They know the situation,. They know what to do.]
The conflict between the US and China was most recently fueled by the visit of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to Washington to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
