China Protests Philippines' Plan for New Taiwan Trade Office, Citing One-China Principle
China has formally protested the Philippines' announcement to open a new trade office in Cebu, Taiwan's second in the country. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the Philippines to uphold the 'one-China Principle' through 'concrete actions' and avoid damaging relations with China. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated that the new office would serve travelers and businesses in the central Philippines and be part of a proposed Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor. This development follows Taiwan's donation of a decommissioned patrol vessel to the Philippines' coast guard. Analysts suggest that China's pressure in the South China Sea is accelerating existing trends in Philippines-Taiwan relations, which are driven by economic links, labor, geographical proximity, and supply-chain cooperation. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs responded that Manila's one-China policy remains unchanged but does not prevent economic, cultural, and functional cooperation with Taiwan. Phili...
