Push Admin

After China's 'veiled threat,' NSC assures Philippines' non-interference in Taiwan

Article (news)

Raffy Cabristante, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A handout photo provided by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense shows Taiwan Navy vessels FACG (Fast Attack Craft, Guided missile) sail at an undisclosed location on April 10, 2023. The People" s="" Liberation="" Army="" is="" holding="" a="" military="" exercise="" in="" the="" Fujian="" Pingtan="" closest="" point="" to="" Taiwan="" after="" China="" announced="" three="" days="" of="" drills="" around="" on="" April="" Hotli="" EPA-EFE="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/overseas/04/11/navy.jpg"/><figcaption>A handout photo provided by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense shows Taiwan Navy vessels FACG (Fast Attack Craft, Guided missile) sail at an undisclosed location on April 10, 2023. The People&#x27;s Liberation Army (PLA) is holding a military exercise in the Fujian Province, Pingtan County, the closest point to Taiwan after China announced three days of military drills around Taiwan on April 9. <em>Hotli Simanjuntak, EPA-EFE/handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><h3>NSC says Philippines adheres to One China Policy</h3><p>MANILA — The National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday maintained that the Philippines &quot;has no intention&quot; of interfering in China&#x27;s affairs with Taiwan, a day after Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian blasted the United States&#x27; expanded access to Philippine military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/15/23/chinese-envoy-alarmed-over-additional-edca-sites-in-ph">Chinese envoy alarmed over additional EDCA sites in Philippines</a></li></ul><p>In a statement, NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya asserted the Philippines would &quot;not allow itself to be used by other countries to interfere&quot; in the growing tensions in Taiwan, the self-governed democratic island that China claims as part of its territory.</p><p>&quot;National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año has made our position clear that the increased security cooperation between the Philippines and the United States is 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 and is not meant to contain or counter any nation in the region or to interfere in another nation’s affairs,&quot; Malaya said.</p><p>&quot;The Philippines is primarily concerned about improving its defense capability, modernizing our equipment and assets, and developing our infrastructure. These are the primary reasons why we are increasing our security cooperation with the United States under the 72-year old Mutual Defense Treaty between our 2 countries,&quot; he added.</p><p>The NSC spokesperson also assured that the Philippines continues to adhere to the One China Policy, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations&#x27; (ASEAN) &quot;principle of non-interference in approaching regional issues.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the more than 150,000 Filipinos living and working on the island and we take grave exception to any effort by guests in our country to use this to fear-monger and intimidate us,&quot; Malaya said.</p><p>In a forum on Friday, the Chinese Ambassador told the Philippine government to reject “Taiwan independence” if it really cares about the 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) there. </p><p>&quot;Some tried to find 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,&quot; Huang said.</p><p>Some analysts and a retired general have described Huang&#x27;s pronouncements as a &quot;veiled threat.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/15/23/china-criticized-for-veiled-threat-vs-ofws-in-taiwan">Ex-general, analyst concerned by China’s ‘veiled threat’ vs OFWs in Taiwan</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/15/23/dnd-riled-by-chinas-veiled-threat-vs-ofws-in-taiwan">DND riled by China&#x27;s &#x27;veiled threat&#x27; vs OFWs in Taiwan</a></li></ul><p>Año had met with Huang last week to assure him that the 4 newly identified EDCA sites in the country were not meant for offensive operations against China, a sentiment that had been earlier conveyed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/23/edca-sites-wont-be-used-for-offensive-attacks-marcos">Marcos says EDCA sites won&#x27;t be used for offensive attacks</a></li></ul><p>The Chinese government had noted that 2 of the new EDCA sites were at the northernmost tip of Luzon, just a few hundred kilometers off Taiwan.</p><p>Año also explained to Huang that the new EDCA sites were meant to be developed to &quot;enable the government to further strengthen the AFP to enable it to defend and protect the country.&quot;</p><p>&quot;By developing our military and base infrastructure, we are pursuing our national interest and actually contributing to regional peace and stability,&quot; the NSC said.</p><p>Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, slammed Huang for his &quot;truly disgraceful statements&quot; referring to OFWs in Taiwan.</p><p>&quot;How dare he threaten us,&quot; she said in a separate statement Sunday.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;He, along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave,&quot; Hontiveros also said.</p><div><strong>—with reports from Job Manahan and Jose Carretero, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2583443" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday maintained that the Philippines 'has no intention' of interfering in China's affairs with Taiwan.

After China's 'veiled threat,' NSC assures Philippines' non-interference in Taiwan

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

After China's 'veiled threat,' NSC assures Philippines' non-interference in Taiwan

Raffy Cabristante,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 16, 2023 01:16 PM PHT

|

Updated Apr 16, 2023 01:21 PM PHT

Read More:

China

Taiwan

United States

Philippines

Huang Xilian

Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement

EDCA

Risa Hontiveros

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.