Teodoro to China: You can’t dictate us over Taiwan

Baguio City, Philippines - Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. rejected China’s warning of “severe consequences” over the reported visit of a Taiwanese diplomat, saying Beijing cannot dictate how the Philippines should implement its One China policy.

“Ang one-China policy, kinocommit naman talaga natin. Talagang hindi natin kinikilala ang Republic of China as Republic of China, although ’yun ang kinikilala natin noong araw. Ngayon, huwag nila tayong diktahan kung ano ang One China policy,” said Teodoro in an ambush interview at Camp John Hay in Baguio City on Tuesday.

[Translation: The one-China policy, we are really committed to it. We do not recognize the Republic of China as the Republic of China, although we did in the past. But now, they should not dictate to us what the One China policy means.]

“Lalong-lalo na kung meron nangyayari dito sa ating lupa. Eh dinidikta ba natin sila kung anong gawin nila doon sa bansa nila? Hindi tayo nakikialam,” he added.

[Translation: Especially if it happens here in our country. Do we dictate to them what they should do in their own country? We don’t interfere.]

Teodoro made the remarks after the Chinese Foreign Ministry said “there is a price to pay for trampling on China’s red line, and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the Philippines.”

The warning followed reports that Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung visited Manila in August with a business delegation led by the US-Taiwan Business Council. The Department of Foreign Affairs neither confirmed nor denied the visit.

Teodoro said he had no knowledge of Lin’s reported trip, and if it happened, no government officials met with him.

He noted thatExecutive Order No. 313 bars defense and foreign affairs officials from engaging with Taiwan without clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Teodoro said China’s so-called red line “is for its citizens” and should not be imposed on the Philippines.