MANILA. China has lodged a strong protest over the visit of Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Philippines, warning Manila “not to play with fire.”
Two senior Philippine officials confirmed Saturday that Lin led a high-level delegation of Taiwanese investors and business executives in the semiconductor and other key industries during a trip earlier this week to Manila and the Clark Freeport Zone. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that Lin visited “in his private capacity” and did not hold official engagements with Philippine political or security leaders.
The Philippines adheres to the “One China” policy and does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. In a statement Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated that the country has “consistently upheld” this policy, which it described as “clear and unwavering.” It added that while economic and people-to-people engagements with Taiwan continue, they remain “within the bounds of our One China Policy.” The DFA further noted that “no official from Taiwan was recognized as a member of the business delegation that recently visited the Philippines.”
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, condemned the visit, accusing the Philippines of providing a platform for “Taiwan independence” separatists to engage in anti-China activities. The Chinese foreign ministry said the visit “severely violated” Manila’s commitments on Taiwan and warned of consequences if the Philippines continues on what it described as the wrong path.
“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 Chinese foreign ministry declared in a statement.
Relations between China and the Philippines have already been strained due to confrontations in the South China Sea, where both nations’ coast guards and maritime forces have clashed over disputed territories and fishing grounds. Lin’s visit has further heightened tensions in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
