China summons PH envoy over serious concern on Taiwan actions

May 1 ------ China has summoned Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz in Beijing to raise concerns over the Philippines’ decision to ease restrictions on government officials traveling to Taiwan to promote economic and trade relations. “Beijing has lodged serious representations with the Philippines over its recent China-related negative moves, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry,” a report on state-owned China Daily said. “Liu Jinsong, director-general of the Asian Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry, summoned the Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz in Beijing to express serious concerns over Manila's negative moves on the Taiwan question and in security areas,” it added. 

China considers Taiwan a renegade island and one of its provinces, with most of the international community adhering to this through the One China Policy, which the Philippines also follows. The China Daily report said summoning Manila’s envoy is based on the relaxing of travel restrictions on Philippine government officials, enabling them to “travel to the island for economic and trade activities using ordinary passports without prior approval from Philippine foreign ministry.” 

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza, however, stressed that the Philippines and China will continue to “exchange frank views” on the Taiwan issue and other matters. “The Philippines and China maintain open lines of communication through regular diplomatic channels, and our exchanges are sustained and constant,” she said. “The two sides regularly exchange frank views over various issues, including on Taiwan, through these channels, and will continue to do so,” the official added. 

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines slammed a statement from Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad about the “international cooperation” between Taiwan and the Philippines. “China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between its Taiwan region and countries having diplomatic ties with China,” the spokesperson said. The embassy urged the “Philippine side to abide by the one-China principle, stop any form of official interaction with the Taiwan authorities, and stop sending wrong signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.” “We call on relevant officials of the Philippines to refrain from making provocations on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it,” the spokesperson added. 

Source: mb.com.ph