Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday congratulated the winner of Saturday’s presidential election, Vice President William Lai (賴清德), saying in a statement shared on social media that he was looking “forward to close collaboration” and “strengthening mutual interests.”
“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s next president,” Marcos wrote. “We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead.”
Marcos’ remarks were made as tensions escalate between China and the Philippines over a series of territorial standoffs in the South China Sea.
Photo: AFP
China yesterday said that it had summoned the Philippine ambassador after Marcos said he looked forward to working with Lai.
“The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes” Marcos’ remarks, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning (毛寧) told a regular news conference.
The remarks “are a serious violation of the one China principle ... a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side and a gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” Mao said.
“We are telling the Philippine side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue ... and to stop immediately its wrongful words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues, and sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence,” she said.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday reaffirmed the nation’s “one China” policy.
The department said the congratulatory message was Marcos’ way of recognizing the Philippines and Taiwan’s “mutual interests,” including the 200,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
“The message of President Marcos congratulating the new president was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] and holding a successful democratic process. Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its one China policy,” a statement said.
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