China warns Philippines against ‘playing with fire’ as Manila boosts military presence near Taiwan
- Manila’s recent order of more troops and construction on remote Batanes province prompts Beijing’s stern words urging ‘clear understanding’
- Philippine province sits less than 200km from Taiwan, which Beijing describes as ‘at the centre of China’s core interests’
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Thursday reiterated Beijing’s position that Taiwan was “at the centre of China’s core interests and represents an insurmountable red line and bottom line”.
“The Philippine side should have a clear understanding of it, act prudently and refrain from playing with fire on the issue of Taiwan, so as to avoid being exploited by others and leading to their own detriment,” Wang said in Beijing.
China and the Philippines shared a long history of friendship, he said, adding that good neighbours should treat each other with mutual respect on issues like national sovereignty and territorial integrity and not interfere in each other’s internal affairs.
However, the US is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
Washington keeps close ties with and provides arms to the self-ruled island for its defence and has increased its support in recent years as friction has mounted across the Taiwan Strait.
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Teodoro’s remarks on boosting the Philippines’ military presence on the Batanes islands coincided with his visit to the remote province to inspect naval facilities there. The islands are strategically located at a waterway choke point connecting the western Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea.
Teodoro said Batanes was the “spearhead of the Philippines as far as the northern baseline is concerned”.
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And his visit “signifies a pivotal moment in our nation’s commitment to territorial defence and national security”, according to a Philippine navy statement.
The Chinese navy regularly transits the Bashi Channel in sailing to and from the western Pacific, especially during its frequent patrol missions around Taiwan.
The US military was also reportedly in discussions with the Philippines to develop a civilian port on the Batanes islands.