By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rey E. Requejo
The Chinese Embassy in Manila said Ambassador Huang Xilian was “misquoted” after he drew flak for saying the Philippines should deny American troops access to its bases if it cared about the fate of 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.
In a tweet Sunday, the embassy said Huang’s remarks were either “misquoted or misinterpreted” or simply taken out of context.
The embassy provided a transcript of his speech “to set the record straight.”
“Some tried to find excuse for the new EDCA (Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement) 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,” the official transcript of Huang’s speech read.
“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.”
“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” it also read.
The last part of the statement drew criticism from administration officials as well as the opposition.
The Department of National Defense and National Security Council said the Philippines was not meddling in China’s affairs with Taiwan.
NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, while stressing the country’s principle of non-interference, chided the ambassador for what was seen as a veiled threat.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had also said the four new EDCA sites—including two near Taiwan– would not be used for offensive attacks.
On April 3, the Philippines announced it would give the United States military access to four new bases on top of the existing five under EDCA: two in Cagayan, one in Isabela, and another on Balabac Island in Palawan.
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), meanwhile, said China has no control over the employment of OFWs in Taiwan, which acts independently in hiring foreign workers.
MECO chairman Silvestre Bello III, a former Labor secretary, said there were actually almost 200,000 OFWs in Taiwan, and that their welfare and interest were all “well protected.”
He said Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor is even coordinating with the Department of Migrant Workers to hire more Filipino teachers and hospitality workers, and even fishermen and farmers.
He said there was no cause for alarm, despite rising tension in the Taiwan Strait.
Bello also said he saw no relation between the welfare and protection of OFWs and EDCA, which grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities and allows them to build facilities, and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels. Permanent basing, however, is prohibited.
“Our OFWs are in good condition. There is no cause for alarm. I will be the first one to tell all of you if there is an emergency situation. But right now, there is no tension. Taiwan is very normal,” he said in Filipino.
Also on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines has a contingency plan to rescue thousands of OFWs in Taiwan in case they get affected by the rising tension in the Taiwan Strait.
Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos said China practically pushed the Philippines into the arms of the United States with its continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
“We have to walk that fine line between leaning for our military and defense towards the United States of America and leaning on commerce and trade and other relationship, social and cultural, with China,” Carlos said on ANC’s “Headstart.”
“Please, from your end, you only need to change your behavior in the South China Sea, and believe me, there will be a sea change in our relationship with your country,” she said, addressing Chinese officials.
Senator Francis Tolentino proposed that the country’s Balikatan exercises should prepare for a sea evacuation of OFWs in Taiwan if geopolitical tensions with China escalate.
He said the simulation of an evacuation should be included in upcoming drills as a precautionary measure.
Tolentino, also the vice-chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, reminded Huang that EDCA and the Balikatan exercises were “not designed for any skirmishes in the Taiwan Strait” but rather for the protection of the Republic of the Philippines.
“EDCA is for the protection of the Philippines. This is not to project military force outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines,” he said.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada urged the government to exhaust all means to ensure that the OFWs in Taiwan are safe and that they are repatriated if it becomes necessary.