China’s ‘red line’ does not apply to PH, says Teodoro

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday said China should not impose its so-called “red line” on the Philippines amid Beijing's statements following the supposed visit of a Taiwanese senior government official to the Philippines.

Teodoro’s statement comes after the Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier warned Taiwan that there was a “price to pay for trampling China’s red line” at the heels of an alleged visit of Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Philippines.

During the commemoration of the 80th Victory Day and the National Celebration of Philippine–American Friendship at Camp John Hay in Baguio City, the DND chief clarified that the visit was not official and that there was no meeting that took place between Lin and Philippine government officials.

Teodoro noted that China's red line was only applicable within Chinese territory and should not be imposed on the Philippines which is a free, independent country.

“Kung nangyari man, bayan natin ito… Gagamitin ba nila ang red line nila para pigilin ang investments, pigilin ang pagtutulungan sa humanitarian assistance and disaster response, pigilin ang pagtatag ng people-to-people relations dito? Tama ba 'yun? Hindi,” he said.

(If [a meeting] did happen, this is our country… Are they going to use the red line to halt investments, halt humanitarian assistance and disaster response, halt people-to-people relations here? Is that right? No, it’s not.)

Teodoro also called out Beijing for allegedly using and reframing history at the expense of the Philippines.

“Why will we reframe the historical perspective when facts happened? To use history to subjugate another country, it's as if they say this is the regeneration or the re-awakening of the Chinese people. But at the expense of the Philippines? No,” he said.

He also pointed out that China’s ties with Russia and North Korea is “a threat” to other countries.

Teodoro also pointed to China’s discussions with India, which he said produced good results as a result of the Indians' possessing nuclear weapons.

“Hindi kaya ng China ang India. May nuclear weapons ang India, malakas ang India.  Eh tayo? Bibigay na lang tayo? ‘Yun ba ang gusto nila? Na sasang-ayon tayo sa revisionist history nila? E kung talamak ang pagkalat nila ng fake news, ano pa kaya kung sa history nila hindi mapapagkatiwalaan?” he questioned.

(China cannot overpower India. India has nuclear weapons, India is strong. What about us? Are we just going to give in? Is that what they want? To agree with their revisionist history? If they keep on spreading fake news, what else in their history should we not trust?)

One China Policy

The Defense Secretary said China was using the Philippines to pin Taiwan under the “One China Policy.”

“’Yan propaganda ng China. ‘Yan ginagamit nila upang huwag tayong tumayo kasama ng ating mga kaalyado na tutulan ang ginagawa nila sa West Philippine Sea at ang pagsakop nila sa nine-dash line. ‘Yan ay gaslighting sa atin,” he said.

“Ang One China Policy, kino-commit naman talaga natin. Talagang hindi natin kinikilala ang Republic of China as Republic of China, although yun ang kinikilala natin noong araw. Ngayon, huwag nila tayong diktahan kung ano ang One China Policy lalong lalo na kung meron nangyayari dito sa ating lupa. Eh dinidikta ba natin sila kung anong gawin nila sa bansa nila? Hindi tayo nakikialam,” he added.

(We have committed to the One China Policy. We don’t recognize the Republic of China as the Republic of China, although that is how we recognized them before. Now, Beijing should not dictate to us what the One China Policy is when something is happening within our territory. Do we tell them what to do with their country? We do not.)

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to upholding the One China Policy during a Senate hearing.

There were also previous tensions following Beijing’s protest against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement stating “that there is no way that the Philippines can stay out” if a war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait.

The Philippines currently holds no diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which separated from mainland China in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War. — RF, GMA Integrated News