(Epoc Ttimes New York) A Philippine senator has called for Beijing to recall its representative in Manila “as soon as possible” following his “threat” to the Philippines to oppose Taiwan’s independence. “How dare he threaten us,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement on April 16. “He, along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave.”
Hontiveros referred to Chinese envoy Huang Xilian, who criticized the Philippines for granting the United States greater access to its military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Huang said the Philippines would “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan’s independence—instead of inflaming the situation by giving the U.S. access to bases—if it “genuinely cared” about the 150,000 Filipinos living in Taiwan.
“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,” he said at a forum in Manila on April 16.
Huang compared the issue of Taiwan’s independence to rebel issues in Mindanao, Philippines, where government and insurgency conflicts had been raging for decades. He said Manila “will never allow any third party to meddle with resolving rebel issues in Mindanao.” Hontiveros said the Philippines respects the right of Taiwanese people to self-determination but would not meddle in the matter of the island’s independence… Read More
