Chinese Embassy rejects PH call for restraint on Taiwan

The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected the Philippines' call for restraint over China's military activities around Taiwan, accusing "relevant Philippine figures" of interfering despite Manila's commitment to the one-China policy.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

The Embassy said this after Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Manila was "deeply concerned" by China's actions around Taiwan, stressing that principles of self-restraint and international law must be observed and reaffirming the Philippines' support for a "free, open, stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific."

In a statement on Thursday, Jan. 1, the Chinese Embassy said the Taiwan situation is an "internal affair."

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no external interference," it said.

The Embassy said Beijing had lodged "serious protests" with the Philippine side and "firmly rejects the wrongful statement," following Teodoro's warning that China's military and coast guard actions around Taiwan undermine regional peace and stability and have implications beyond cross-Strait relations.