Manila keeps One China policy after Taiwan polls

THE PHILIPPINES has reaffirmed its commitment to adhere to the One China policy after Taiwan’s presidential elections concluded over the weekend, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs reaffirms the principles contained in the Joint Communique of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the People’s Republic of China signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Premier Zhou Enlai on 9 June 1975,” the DFA said in a statement sent to reporters in a WhatsApp message.

“The Philippines is committed to its One-China Policy,” it said.

Under the agreement, the Philippines and China would agree to settle disputes by peaceful means.

William Lai Ching-te, who represented Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, won the race, garnering 40.1% of votes. He is Taiwan’s incumbent vice president.

On Saturday, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said the elections would not “change the basic landscape and development trend of crossStrait relations.”

Taiwan has been independent from China since 1949, but Beijing still claims the island is part of its territory and views Taiwan as a “renegade province.”

Tensions between the Philippines and China have worsened amid Beijing’s continued attempts to block Philippine resupply missions at Second Thomas Shoal.

In April last year, Chinese Ambassador Huan Xilian asked the Philippines to oppose Taiwan’s independence if the country “cares genuinely” about the welfare of more than 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there.