MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not received any request from the United States to grant Speaker Nancy Pelosi clearance to use the Philippines as a transit point for her supposed trip to Taiwan.
The statement came after reports circulated online that Pelosi would be taking off from Clark enroute to Taiwan.
"The DFA has not received any request from the US government or their Embassy in Manila for Speaker Pelosi to transit and/ or visit the Philippines as part of her current swing of visits to the region," DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza told reporters on Tuesday.
For officials like Pelosi, Daza said a request would be coursed through the DFA, which will then coordinate with other relevant offices.
"For example, if it is for landing then it will be with airport among others," she said.
The US and the Philippines adopt the One-China policy, recognizing the People's Republic of China as the sole Chinese government.
"The Philippines continues to adhere to the One-China policy. It, however, has strong commercial and cultural ties with Taiwan. The Philippines has a Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei just as Taiwan has its TECO in Manila," Daza said.
Although Pelosi's trip to Taiwan was not confirmed by officials, China has repeatedly warned the US that pushing through with it would "seriously undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity".
The Chinese Foreign Ministry then threatened the US side that Beijing is "fully prepared for any eventuality and that the People’s Liberation Army of China will never sit idly by, and we will make resolute response and take strong countermeasures to uphold China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."
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In a separate statement, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said a visit to Taiwan by Pelosi "at any time in whatever name is by no means an unofficial exchange between the United States and Taiwan region of China".
"As one of the three branches of the US government, the US Congress should adhere to the One-China policy. Speaker Pelosi is second in the US presidential line of succession," he said.
"Should Speaker Pelosi insist on making a visit to Taiwan region in disregard of China’s strong objection, such a visit will seriously violate the One-China principle and the stipulations in the three Sino-US joint communiqués, seriously harm China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously undermine the political foundation of China-US relations, seriously jeopardize peace and stability across the Taiwan strait, and send a gravely wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," he added.
He likewise noted that the One-China policy is also the political foundation of China-Philippines relations.
"It is our hope that the Philippine side will strictly abide by the One-China principle and handle all Taiwan-related issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relation," Huang said. (PNA)
