China has threatened the Philippines with severe consequences after it accused the latter of reneging on the One China policy for purportedly allowing a Taiwanese diplomat into the country.
At a press conference on Friday, a transcript of which was provided by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged Manila to “stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence’ separatists.”
“The Philippines, by letting Lin Chia-lung visit the country as a so-called head of a foundation, has provided a platform for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists to engage in anti-China activities, and has severely violated the basic norms in international relations and the Philippines’ own commitment on Taiwan-related issues,” Guo said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier clarified that no Taiwanese official was “recognized as a member of the business delegation that recently visited the Philippines.”
It declined to further comment on the matter and merely reiterated the country’s pledge to the One China policy as well as the 1975 agreement, which laid the groundwork for the diplomatic relations between Beijing and Manila.
