Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday congratulated Taiwan's presidential election winner Lai Ching-te, saying in a statement shared on social media that he looked forward to “close collaboration” and “strengthening mutual interests.” .
Marcos' congratulatory message is likely to be frowned upon by China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory to be taken under Beijing's control by force if necessary. President-elect Lai has promised to safeguard the island's de facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies.
After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, China's Foreign Ministry said the message “sends a seriously wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces.” , claiming that it goes against the United States' commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan.
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“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as the next president of Taiwan,” Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks in Quezon City, Philippines, on December 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
“We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace and ensuring the prosperity of our people in the years to come,” added the Philippine president.
The Chinese embassy in Manila had no immediate comment on Marcos' congratulatory words.
The Philippines adheres to the One China principle, which holds that Taiwan is part of China and recognizes Beijing as the government of China.
Asked earlier for its reaction to Taiwan's presidential election result, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila briefly stated that it remains committed to its One China policy, which the Philippines adopted in 1975.
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Marcos' comments were made as tensions rise between China and the Philippines over a series of territorial clashes in the South China Sea.
