Centino reiterates One-China policy amid Taiwan's interest in security cooperation with PH

ITBAYAT, Batanes — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Andres Centino has reiterated the country's One-China policy amid Taiwan's reported interest in forging a security cooperation with the Philippines.

"Diplomatically, we abide by the One-China policy," Centino told reporters who joined him this week during a series of "talk to troops" engagements in various military detachments here and the Ilocos Region.

Centino gave the answer when asked to comment on the report quoting Taiwan Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu as saying that security cooperation between the Philippines and Taiwan may be possible as the two countries are facing the same threat.

In an interview with the Philippine Star, Wu said such security cooperation with the Philippines "is one area that we should think about."

Centino did not comment on whether cooperation with Taiwan is possible.

The One-China policy is the position held by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that there is only one sovereign state under the name of China, with the PRC serving as the sole legitimate government of China, and Taiwan being an inalienable part of China.

While Centino reiterated the Philippines' existing policy, he also said that a decision regarding security cooperation with Taiwan "is for our leaders to agree or not; otherwise, we will just abide by what our leaders say."

As part of a whole-of-government approach, the AFP has been tasked to come up with plans to effectively execute mitigation measures if tensions between Taiwan, China, and the United States in the Taiwan Strait escalate, Centino said.

"In fact, we're being tasked from our part to come up with plans on how we can execute them if our national government takes action to address any tension that may arise in Taiwan," he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News