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Philippines says no
plan to abolish ¡¥one China¡¦ policy
Staff Writer, with CNA, MANILA
The Philippine government said yesterday that it has reviewed its ¡§one China¡¨
policy and does not plan to abolish it.
Edwin Lacierda, spokesman for Malacanang Palace, the Philippines¡¦ presidential
office, said the purpose of forming a study group to review the ¡§one China¡¨
policy was to find ways of improving ties with Taiwan following a diplomatic row
caused by the Philippines¡¦ deportation of 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China.
The Philippines does not have a plan to end its ¡§one China¡¨ policy under which
the Philippines recognizes the People¡¦s Republic of China as the sole legitimate
government representing all of China, Lacierda said.
The study group, led by the Philippine House of Representatives and the
Department of Foreign Affairs, concluded that the country should continue its
¡§one China¡¨ policy, although it should also continue to monitor and review the
policy.
The group recommended the Philippines sign more economic cooperation pacts with
Taiwan, as well as an agreement on mutual legal assistance to facilitate joint
efforts to combat cross--border crime.
It also suggested the Philippines dispatch Cabinet-level officials to visit
Taiwan and send foreign ministry officials to staff the Manila Economic and
Cultural Office in Taipei to improve ties.
The announcement comes as the Philippines¡¦ relationship with China has become
tense because of an ongoing dispute over the sovereignty of a group of islands
in the South China Sea.
Philippine Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario is currently visiting
China.
The report was sent to the relevant government authorities on June 15, but was
not made public until Thursday. Some analysts in Manila believe the Philippines
waited three weeks to highlight these recommendations as part of its strategy to
play the Taiwan card while it deals with China.
The Manila Times yesterday quoted the group as saying the Philippines¡¦ ¡§one
China¡¨ policy must be reviewed to strengthen and formalize its economic and
cultural ties with Taiwan.
In a final working draft shown to reporters, the group recommended ¡§enhancement
of trade, economic, investment, education and cultural relations with Taiwan.¡¨
The report said the Philippines must take advantage of the ¡§burgeoning economic
markets¡¨ of China and Taiwan since the implementation of the Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement boosted the volume of trade, commerce and
tourism between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The recommendations, the study group said, were based on the establishment of
quasi-government offices in Taiwan by countries with diplomatic relations with
China all the while ¡§adhering to the one-China policy.¡¨
¡§These countries do so in pursuit of their trade, economic, education and
cultural interests,¡¨ the report said.
Three ASEAN members ¡X Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam ¡X were said to have
¡§astutely deepened and expanded their relations¡¨ with Taiwan ¡§without China¡¦s
objections.¡¨
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