Manila does damage control after 'playing with fire'

The Philippine government has reaffirmed its commitment to the one-China principle, which is its long-standing policy and enjoys wide support from local people.

The country's foreign affairs department issued a clarification on Tuesday after President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr made remarks on social media on the Taiwan leadership election, which were strongly opposed by Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned Manila not to play with fire on the Taiwan question and to stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

She suggested that President Marcos read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and come to the right conclusion.

Philippine Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Teresita Daza said the government reaffirms the principles stated in the joint communique signed in 1975 by Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and Philippine president Ferdinand Edralin Marcos, father of the current Philippine leader.

Under the one-China principle, the Philippines recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.

The Philippine Association for the Promotion of China's Peaceful Reunification issued a statement on Monday, saying: "The Taiwan election is a local matter in China. No matter what the election results are or how the situation on the island changes, there is only one China in the world and the fact that Taiwan is part of China's territory will not change."

It said the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, or DPP, which has been in power for eight years, has stepped up "de-Chinaization", carried out "Taiwan independence education", colluded with external forces and resorted to militarism.

The association said the members of the Philippines hope for peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait and oppose "Taiwan independence".

Marcos' remarks in congratulating DPP candidate Lai Ching-te on social media on Monday night is the first time that a Philippine leader has commented on any Taiwan election, and Philippine news site GMA News, citing government sources, reported that even the foreign affairs department was caught by surprise by Marcos' statement.

Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, vice-president for external affairs at the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, questioned Marcos' statement on social media, noting that it is "ironic" that Marcos made those remarks considering that it is his father who spearheaded the establishment of official diplomatic ties between the Philippines and China in 1975.

The Philippines adheres to the one-China principle, and that is why its envoy to China was summoned after Marcos sent the message to Lai, according to Ernesto Abella, former undersecretary of the Philippine foreign affairs department.