PH reaffirms 'One China Policy' after Marcos congratulates Taiwan's Lai

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday renewed its commitment to adhere to the "One China Policy" hours after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. publicly congratulated newly elected Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te.

In a statement, the DFA clarified that Marcos' message congratulating the new Taiwanese president "was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and holding a successful democratic process."

"Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy," the DFA said. 

There are nearly 200,000 OFWs in Taiwan, mostly working in factories, according to the DFA.

Marcos' congratulatory message posted on X (formerly Twitter) is likely to rile China, which considers Taiwan as part of its territory.

"On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan's next President," Marcos said.

"We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead," he added.

Government sources earlier said the DFA was caught by surprise by Marcos' statement.

Marcos' statement congratulating Taiwan's newly elected leader is the first to be issued by a Philippine president in recent years. 

In deference to the One China Policy, Manila does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island which has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949. The Philippines, however, maintains a de-facto embassy in Taiwan called the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).

Lai immediately thanked Marcos for the message.

"Thank you, President @bongbongmarcos for your congratulations. I deeply value the enduring friendship between #Taiwan & the #Philippines," Lai said in a statement on X.

"I look forward to enhancing our economic and people-to-people ties while championing democracy, peace & prosperity in the region," he added.

Prior to Marcos' message, the DFA issued a statement on Sunday when asked to comment on Taiwan's elections, saying the Philippines "is committed to its One China Policy."

"The Department of Foreign Affairs reaffirms the principles contained in the Joint Communique of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China signed by President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Premier Zhou Enlai on June 9, 1975," Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said.

"The Philippines is committed to its One-China Policy. The Joint Communique states that 'the two governments agree to settle all disputes by peaceful means... without resorting to the use of threat or force'," she added.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News