The Chinese Embassy in Manila has rebuked Sen. Kiko Pangilinan for criticizing Beijing's recent military drills around Taiwan, saying his remarks violate the Philippines' one-China policy. Pangilinan warned that the exercises have unsettled Filipinos in Taiwan and threaten regional stability. The embassy urged Philippine figures to adhere to the one-China commitment and avoid supporting separatism.
On January 1, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, chair of the Senate justice committee, issued a statement warning against China's two-day military drills encircling Taiwan. He said, “It is the season of goodwill, but China’s two-day military drills encircling Taiwan have brought ill will all around.” He criticized enforcing peace through military pressure and warned against normalizing invasion threats in the region.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila responded, labeling Pangilinan's remarks as “wrongful.” “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” it stated, describing the Taiwan issue as a domestic matter that “brooks no external interference.” It urged “relevant Philippine figures” to abide by Manila's one-China commitment and cease aiding Taiwanese separatism.
The drills, conducted earlier this week at year's end, involved live-fire exercises, missile launches, and simulations of blockades on key ports. Taiwan condemned them as highly provocative, while Beijing described them as aimed at deterring separatism and foreign interference. China claims Taiwan as its sovereign territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring the self-governed island under control.
The Philippines adheres to the One China principle, recognizing Beijing as China's legitimate government and maintaining no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged the Philippines' vulnerable position in a potential Taiwan Strait conflict, noting Manila could be drawn in “kicking and screaming” due to its proximity and the large number of Filipino workers there. China protested his comments as “playing with fire,” but Marcos clarified it was a practical reality for planning the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan.
