Año: Philippines won’t interfere on Taiwan issue

MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has assured Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian that the country has no intention of interfering in the Taiwan issue.

“We observe the one-China policy and subscribe to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) 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,” Año said during Huang’s courtesy call at the National Security Council.

The country will not allow itself to be used by other countries, particularly in the conflict between China and Taiwan, according to Año.

He emphasized to the Chinese envoy that the increase in security cooperation with the United States is in pursuit of the national interest and is meant to pursue peace and stability in the region.

The former interior secretary said the four new sites for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) are not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s affairs, but are intended to develop and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enable it to protect and defend the country’s territory.

Among the EDCA sites are the Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

Año stressed that the Philippines is primarily concerned about improving its defense capability, modernizing its equipment and assets, and developing its infrastructure. — Rainier Allan Ronda