China blasts PH over Taiwan official’s visit, says Manila ‘seriously lacks credibility’
MANILA, Philippines — China has turned up the heat on the Philippines, accusing Manila of undermining its One China commitments after reports that Taiwan’s top diplomat Lin Chia-lung quietly visited the country this week.
In a statement released Friday, August 29, Beijing denounced the visit as a blatant breach of diplomatic norms and a dangerous opening for what it called “Taiwan independence separatists.”
"The Philippines, by letting Lin Chia-lung visit the country as a so-called head of a foundation, has provided a platform for 'Taiwan independence' separatists to engage in anti-China activities, and has severely violated the basic norms in international relations and the Philippines’ own commitment on Taiwan-related issues," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
The ministry added that Manila has, in recent months, engaged in “a series of wrong and provocative moves on Taiwan-related issues,” charging that the government is “hollowing out” the very policy it pledged to uphold under its 1975 communiqué with Beijing.
"This once again reflects the serious lack of credibility of the Philippine government," the Chinese official said.
"China firmly opposes this and has lodged serious protests with the Philippines both in Beijing and Manila," he added.
The statement came just hours after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a carefully worded clarification, insisting that no Taiwanese official was formally recognized as part of the visiting delegation.
"Consistent with the Philippines’ One China Policy, no official from Taiwan is recognized as a member of the business delegation that recently visited the Philippines," the DFA said.
The DFA’s statement followed days of speculation over Lin’s presence in Manila.
In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Imee Marcos pressed DFA Secretary Theresa Lazaro about reports of Lin’s presence in Manila, warning that his visit could provoke Beijing.
Lazaro insisted the DFA had not been notified of any such visit, and only acknowledged a US-Taiwan Business Council mission led by executive vice president Lotta Danielsson.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that a delegation was indeed in the Philippines, making stops in Subic Bay, New Clark City and Manila to pursue partnerships in semiconductors, agriculture, energy, manufacturing and tourism. But it declined to confirm whether Lin himself was part of the group.
The DFA said that Manila’s adherence to the One China Policy remains “clear and unwavering,” citing the 1975 Joint Communiqué with Beijing. At the same time, it acknowledged “economic and people-to-people engagements” with Taiwan, noting that around 200,000 Filipinos live and work there.
Despite its firm commitment to the One China Policy, the Philippines has recently inched closer to Taiwan in terms of engagement.
Earlier this year, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular No. 82 easing restrictions on official travel to Taiwan for economic and trade purposes, excluding only the president, vice president and the foreign and defense secretaries.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has warned that the Philippines would inevitably be caught in the fallout of any conflict across the Taiwan Strait, stressing its proximity and the welfare of thousands of Filipino workers. — with reports from Cristina Chi
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