Palace: Philippines won’t interfere in rift between China, Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines would not interfere in the tension between China and Taiwan, Malacañang said Monday, after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called its democratic allies to support its independence.

“It’s between the two countries. Our concern is our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) there. We still don’t know the situation so we will let them be for now,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“I think I would leave the response to the proper authority – the Secretary of Foreign of Affairs. That is his turf,” he added.

Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said Taiwan’s unification with Beijing was “inevitable.”

Xi said China would not “give up the use of military force and reserve the option of taking all necessary means” to bring Taiwan to its fold.

READ: Taiwan reunification with China ‘inevitable’- Xi 

Tsai, who took office in 2016, said China “must respect the insistence of 23 million people for freedom and democracy” and “must use peaceful and equal terms to handle our differences.” /kga