China on Wednesday urged the Philippines to uphold the one-China principle through “concrete” actions after Taiwan announced plans to establish a representative office in Cebu City.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called on Manila to avoid actions that could damage relations between China and the Philippines, according to the Beijing-based Global Times.
“No matter how the DPP authorities collude with external forces or in what form they seek so-called ‘diplomatic breakthroughs,’ their efforts to serve the goal of ‘Taiwan independence’ are doomed to be futile,” Guo said, referring to Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
His comments followed an announcement by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung that Taipei was preparing to establish an office in Cebu to assist Taiwanese travellers and businesspeople in the central Philippines, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
The proposed Cebu facility would become Taiwan’s second representative office in the Philippines, joining its existing office in Manila. Lin did not provide a date for its opening.
Taiwan has also proposed establishing a Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor. Lin said the initiative could connect with the US-Japan-Philippines-backed Luzon Economic Corridor and contribute to more resilient regional supply chains.
According to Lin, more than 200,000 Filipinos currently work in Taiwan, while Taiwan and the Philippines provide visa-free entry to each other’s nationals.
Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China and opposes official exchanges between Taipei and countries maintaining diplomatic relations with the Chinese government.