How much clearer could the Chinese Ambassador, Huang Xilian, explain what he meant by the statements he delivered last 15 April at the 8th Manila Forum for China-Philippine Relations?
We quote Huang:
“Some tried to find an excuse for the new EDCA sites by citing the safety of the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan, while China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese.”
“But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities.”
“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs.”
In reaction, Senator Risa Hontiveros issued this rejoinder: “The Palace should tell Beijing to recall their representative in Manila as soon as possible. He, along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave.”
She continued, “We in the Philippines respect the right of the Taiwanese people to self-determination, and this right must be upheld by all other nations that share this planet, even including the autocratic regime of China.”
And, as a hammer slammed down with riveting force, Hontiveros said: “If China has issues with the US, she shouldn’t drag our country into their fight. It is China who has been stoking tensions in the region, claiming territories that aren’t hers. 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.”
Any self-respecting Filipino would stand by Hontiveros and share her outrage over Huang’s remarks.
The National Security Council issued a clarification that the sites to which the US has access under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement were chosen in accordance with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Strategic Basing Plan; it also stressed that the Philippines will never allow any other country to use it as a pawn.
US-Philippine relations are based on historical and cultural ties and a shared commitment to democracy and human rights — ideals that China can never hope to invoke in seeking kinship with the Philippines.
Based on the security partnership embodied in the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty since 1951, the Philippines is free to demonstrate its closeness with its treaty ally through such exercises as the annual Balikatan, with troops from both countries undertaking military drills as well as disaster response and humanitarian aid activities.
This year, the treaty allies are kicking off the largest-ever Balikatan, with over 17,000 troops from both countries and Australia going through the drills in locations around the country. China, personified by Huang, seems to be particularly riled up by the presence of US military might in the country at this particular time.
What exactly goes on in the minds of Huang and his superiors in China — is it paranoia? Jealousy, over the Philippines’ closeness with its Western superpower counterpart? They take particular exception to the new EDCA sites which face north towards Taiwan.
Regardless of where these sites are located, EDCA “is not about any other third country; the sites are there to support combined training exercises and interoperability between US and Philippine forces to ensure better preparedness for any future crisis,” declared the US Embassy in Manila.
In no uncertain terms, the NSC too maintained that the Philippines has no intention of interfering in China’s affairs with Taiwan, even as it asserts that the country would “not allow itself to be used by other countries to interfere” in tensions in democratic self-governed Taiwan which is claimed by China as its own.
“Our position is clear: the increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the US is meant to develop and strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capabilities in protecting and defending Philippine territory and is not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s affairs,” stressed NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
China may take that however it wants, but there’s no unambiguity about the Philippine position where China’s issue with the US amid the growing tensions in Taiwan is concerned.
Can Huang be just as clear in saying that there’s no threat in his admonition that the Philippines “unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs” in Taiwan?