Dateline PhiliPPines PH not meddling in Taiwan affairs

by Franco Jose c. Baroña, Bernadette e tamayo and Kristina maralit ManilaTimes.net

THE Department of National Defense (DND) has denied that the Philippine government is meddling in China’s dispute with Taiwan.

“We reiterate that our primordial concern in Taiwan is the safety and well-being of the Filipinos living and working on the island,” DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

Andolong was reacting to the statement of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian that the safety and welfare of the thousands of Filipinos working in Taiwan could be jeopardized if Manila continues to recognize the independence of the island nation.

Beijing has long claimed that Taiwan is a province of China.

Andolong also disagreed with Huang that the situation in Taiwan is similar to Manila’s security concerns in Mindanao.