CHINESE Ambassador Huang Xilian yesterday urged Philippine officials to follow the “guidance” of President Marcos Jr. instead of listening to other officials on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
Huang made the remarks during the launching of the Chinese Visa Application Center in Makati City.
“We need to follow the guidelines, the guidance of the President instead of any officials,” Huang told reporters in a chance interview.
He he did not name the “other officials” but Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has made known his displeasure over Chinese actions against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippines calls the portion of the South China Sea that is within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea, where it has had a series of confrontations with China, triggering an exchange of accusations of provoking conflict.
Teodoro also said Manila and Beijing cannot meet halfway in handling their differences until the latter recognizes the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
The arbitral ruling junked China’s massive claim in the South China Sea, including the parts claimed by the Philippines as within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea through which nearly $5trillion in goods passes annually and refuses to honor nor abide by the arbitral ruling.
But Huang said the two countries should meet halfway to resolve the maritime territorial dispute and reduce tension in the waterway.
“We expect that both sides will meet halfway to handle the differences in a diplomatic manner and de-escalate the tensions,” he added.
Last week, Beijing and Manila agreed to improve maritime communication and manage conflicts and differences through dialogue with regard to the issues in the disputed water.
This was agreed on by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro during the eighth meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea held in Shanghai.
On Wednesday however, the DFA revealed it has lodged four diplomatic protests against Beijing since the start of 2024, over China’s over harassment activities targeting Filipino fishermen and vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
Since 2020, the DFA has lodged over 400 protests against China for the harassment of Filipino naval and coast guard vessels as well as fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
TAIWAN ISSUE
On Wednesday night, the Chinese Embassy said China now appreciates President Marcos’ assurance of the Philippines’ adherence to the One China policy.
The turnaround came after Marcos earlier this week made it clear that his message congratulating Lai Ching-te for his victory in the recent Taiwan presidential elections is a matter of “common courtesy.”
Taiwanese voters elected Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party as Taiwan’s next chief executive, defying warnings from Beijing and its ruling Communist Party.
Beijing has branded Lai and his party as a threat to peace as they are working for the independence of Taiwan which China considers as part of its territory.
“We appreciate President Marcos reiterating the Philippine adherence to the One China policy emphasizing Taiwan is a province of China and the Philippines not endorsing Taiwan independence,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.
The embassy also reiterated its position that Taiwan is an “inalienable part” of China and that its reunification is “unstoppable.”
“It is well known there is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China,” the embassy said.
“The complete reunification of China is where global opinion trends and where the arc of history bends. China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable,” it added.
Earlier, the DFA said the country would continue to adhere to the One China policy and is committed to the 1975 Joint Communiqué of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China.
The said communiqué signed by late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai states that the Philippine recognizes the PROC as “the sole legal government of China,” and respects the position of Beijing that Taiwan is “an integral part of Chinese territory.”
In deference to its One China policy, the Philippines does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, with bilateral ties handled by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in Manila.
Any military conflict in the Taiwan Strait would inevitably affect the Philippines considering how close the self-ruled island is and as well the presence or around 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Taiwan, a democracy of more than 23 million people.
