After Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian criticized the United States’ expanded access to Philippine military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the National Security Council (NSC) reaffirmed on Sunday that the Philippines “has no intention” of meddling in China’s affairs with Taiwan.
NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya declared in a statement that the Philippines would “not allow itself to be used by other countries to interfere” in the growing tensions in Taiwan, the self-governed democratic island that China claims as part of its territory.
“National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año has made our position clear that the increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States is meant to develop and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enable it to protect and defend the territory of the Philippines and is not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s affairs,” Malaya said.
“The Philippines is primarily concerned about improving its defense capability, modernizing our equipment and assets, and developing our infrastructure. These are the primary reasons why we are increasing our security cooperation with the United States under the 72-year old Mutual Defense Treaty between our 2 countries,” he added.
The NSC spokeswoman further reaffirmed that the Philippines upholds the One China Policy and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) “principle of non-interference in approaching regional issues.”
“Our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the more than 150,000 Filipinos living and working on the island and we take grave exception to any effort by guests in our country to use this to fear-monger and intimidate us,” Malaya said.
The Chinese Ambassador urged the Philippine government to oppose “Taiwan independence” in a discussion on Friday if it truly cared about the 150,000 Filipino overseas workers (OFW) there.
“Some tried to find excuse for the new EDCA sites by citing the safety of the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan, while China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities,” Huang said.
