Manila affirms right to work with Taipei despite China's warning

Taipei, Sept. 21 (CNA) The Philippine government on Sunday reaffirmed its long-held stance that it diplomatically recognizes China, rather than Taiwan, but said that position does not prevent Manila from pursuing relations with Taipei.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reaffirms the Philippines' adherence to its One-China Policy, in accordance with the 1975 Joint Communiqué between the Philippines and China, in which the Philippines recognized the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China," the DFA said in a statement.

While that policy remains consistent, clear, and unchanged, it "does not preclude the Philippines from pursuing economic, cultural and functional cooperation with Taiwan," the DFA said.

Citing a recent comment by Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DFA said the Philippines and Taiwan are close neighbors with a long history of doing business together.

"Consistent with this mandate, the Department will continue to rely on effective diplomacy, open communication, and the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law to advance the national interest and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond," it said.

"Together with other relevant agencies, the Department will continue to ensure the welfare of Filipinos on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," the DFA added.

The DFA statement was released after a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson last week urged Manila to adhere to its one-China stance.

The statement was made one day after Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said in a radio interview on Sept. 15 that Taipei was preparing to open a second representative office in the Philippines.

The new office in Cebu will serve travelers and businesspeople in the central Philippines, a popular tourism destination, Lin said, but he did not give an opening date.

The current de facto Taiwan representative office in the Philippines -- the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office -- is located in the capital Manila.

On Sept. 16, when Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) was asked during a news briefing in Beijing to comment on Taiwan's reported plan to open a new office in the Philippines, he said it was "doomed to fail."

The Philippines should uphold "the one-China principle through concrete actions and refrain from doing anything that would harm China-Philippines relations," he said.