SEN. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros wants Beijing to recall its ambassador to Manila over his "threatening" statements regarding the Philippines' partnership with the US.
The senator said that if China has issues with the United States, she should "not drag the Philippines" into their fight.
Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian on Friday "advised" the Philippines to unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence" if it cared about the 150,000 OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) there.
Huang said that the Philippines is "stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait" referring to sites under the EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) between Manila and Washington.
"These are truly disgraceful statements from Ambassador Huang Xilian. How dare he threaten us," Hontiveros said.
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"The Palace should tell Beijing to recall their representative in Manila as soon as possible," she said on Sunday in a statement.
She said Huang "has no business being a diplomat if he is unable to engage with us in a respectful and dignified manner."
The Philippines, she said, will never interfere with the issue of Taiwanese independence. "That is exclusively for the people of Taiwan to tackle."
"It is China who has been stoking tensions in the region, claiming territories that aren't hers," she pointed out. "It is China who continues to bully, harass, and intimidate other smaller nations in the region. It is China who is making all this mess."
thegoatmenace on April 24th, 2023 at 03:14 UTC »
Why does the foreign ministry give their diplomats the latitude to say this crap? American diplomats at least know how to stay on message. It’s just really out of character for a country that is famous for tightly controlling political speech.
its1968okwar on April 24th, 2023 at 00:18 UTC »
The competition on who will become the new Zhao Lijian seems to intensify between Chinese ambassadors! Most still pale compared to Gui Congyou who was gloriously summoned by the Swedish govt on average twice a month for breaking the constitution during his service. Exciting times.
omniverseee on April 23rd, 2023 at 20:57 UTC »
Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian "advised" the Philippines to unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence" if it cared about the 150,000 OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) there.
Philippines don't support Taiwan independence and before the speech, department of defense reiterated this to the ambassador.