The statement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian about the 150,000 Filipino workers who are employed overseas in Taiwan has been misquoted and misinterpreted, according to the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Sunday.
While the embassy said it “appreciated” the “extensive coverage” of Huang’s speech at the 8th Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations on Friday, it said that the envoy’s words have been taken “out of context.”
"Unfortunately some misquoted or misinterpreted Ambassador Huang's remarks or simply took part of the Ambassador's words out of context," the embassy said in a post, attaching the original text of the speech.
Huang on Friday advised the Philippines to oppose Taiwan's independence and avoid stoking the fire by offering the United States access to military bases near the Taiwan Strait.
"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 [overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan]," he said.
This comes amidst tensions between China and Taiwan, with China launching military drills after the latter's president met with a top US official. The envoy accused the US of using the military bases to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its interests and advance its anti-China agenda, which could undermine peace and development in the Philippines and the region.
Following his remark, Senator Risa Hontiveros told Huang to 'pack up and leave' the country.
"How dare he threaten us," she said in a statement on Sunday.
"Our OFWs in Taiwan will continue to work where they work. End of story. Filipinos will thrive and make a living according to our wishes. We will never let Beijing decide on the future of Filipino families. Their destiny is not in China’s hands," she continued.
National Security Council (NSC) assistant director-general and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, in a statement, said the country has no interest in or intention of interfering in the Taiwan issue
In a statement on Saturday night, Malaya said that the NSC wanted to clarify that the Philippines has no interest in interfering in issues with Taiwan and will not allow itself to be taken advantage of by other countries to interfere in the said issue, as claimed by the Chinese Ambassador in the Philippines.
Malaya also stated that National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año has stated the Philippines' position on increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States and that this only meant "to develop and strengthen the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to enable it to protect and defend the territory of the Philippines."
Earlier this month, the national government announced the location of the four new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, which could temporarily host US military logistics and personnel on a rotational basis.
The four locations are the Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz, Isabela; and Balabac Island, Palawan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously maintained that the four new EDCA sites with the US would not be used for offensive actions.
