Philippine-Taiwan interaction would be seen in Beijing as independence support, analyst says

The Star

05-05-2025

Potential Philippine interactions with Taiwan would be a 'dangerous step' that would be seen as support for Taiwanese independence and could trigger economic retaliation from Beijing, according to a Chinese academic.
China's foreign ministry summoned Jaime FlorCruz, Manila's envoy to Beijing, on Tuesday to lodge 'solemn representations over a series of negative moves recently made by the Philippines concerning Taiwan and security-related issues', the ministry said.
The ministry did not elaborate but on the same day the Chinese embassy in Manila warned against remarks by Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad that the Philippines and Taiwan were in talks over 'international cooperation'.
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In a report on TV channel TaiwanPlus News on Tuesday, Trinidad said the two navies were considering joint patrols in the Luzon Strait.
'We now have the regularisation of the cross-strait transit of warships. I believe that there will be an increase of that in the coming years. That will also be just one step away from doing joint activities, military to military,' said Trinidad, who is also the military spokesman for South China Sea issues.
It was the first time a Philippine senior military official had acknowledged potential military cooperation with Taiwan.
In a separate statement, Trinidad said he was referring to international cooperation and not joint patrols between the Philippines and Taiwan, the Taiwanese media outlet said on its Facebook page.
Dai Fan, an associate professor and director of the centre for Philippine studies at Jinan University in Guangzhou, said that any official interactions with Taiwan would be interpreted as support for Taiwanese independence, which was bound to rile Beijing.
'The Philippines is taking a very dangerous step, and it will be significantly detrimental to Sino-Philippines relations,' Dai said.
'I think China is likely to make a very strong response, including in the economic area, and the Philippines would have to take the consequence.'
That sentiment was reflected in a statement from the Chinese embassy in Manila, which 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 embassy said on Tuesday.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to arm Taiwan.
In a further move that has touched the nerves of Beijing, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has eased a 38-year travel restriction to allow most of the country's government officials to visit Taiwan.
Under a memorandum circular, which was signed on April 15 but only made public on April 21, Philippine officials are allowed to visit Taiwan for economic, trade and investment purposes, though they should carry ordinary passports and should not use their official titles.
They may also host delegations from Taiwan for economic, trade and investment activities through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.
However, travel restrictions remained in place for the Philippine president, vice-president and secretaries of foreign affairs and defence.
Philippine officials said the government was looking to maximise its investment opportunities with Taiwan.
In 1987, then president Corazon Aquino signed an executive order banning all Philippine officials from visiting Taiwan or officially receiving Taiwanese delegations.
In Manila on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs stressed that the Philippines and China would continue to 'exchange frank views' over the Taiwan issue and other matters 'through regular diplomatic channels', according to news site the Manila Bulletin.
Ties between Beijing and Manila have frayed since Marcos aligned the country's foreign and security policies with Washington in countering China.
The two sides are locked in frequent and intense confrontations – including collisions between ships – in the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Referring to Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name, China Coast Guard said on Wednesday that it conducted 'law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters of Huangyan Island and surrounding areas'. The shoal has been under Beijing's control since 2012 and is also claimed by Manila, where it is known as Panatag Shoal.
The Chinese coastguard said it had stepped up security in the area this month to 'resolutely safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests' through measures such as tracking, surveillance, verbal warnings, and lawful interception.
The People's Liberation Army often sails its warships to monitor joint patrols between the Philippines and the US and its allies.
On Tuesday, the PLA navy and air force conducted 'routine patrols' in response to what it called 'frequent maritime infringements, provocations and troublemaking' by the Philippines at a time when the Philippine and US air forces were carrying out their own joint mission above the disputed waterway, according to the PLA's Southern Theatre Command.
When Marcos congratulated Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te for winning Taiwan's election in January last year, Beijing was infuriated and lodged a strong protest, and Manila soon reaffirmed the country's one-China policy.
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