DFA Assures Safety Of Filipino Workers In Taiwan; Offers 'Friendship To All' Countries

Contingency measures to assure the safety of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan are in place should tensions with China escalate, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

"The DFA is committed to the promotion of the welfare and security of all overseas Filipinos, including migrant workers," the government agency said in a statement on Monday. "We assure the public that contingency plans are in place in all places where there are high numbers of OFWs."

The Foreign Affairs Department also said the Philippines' dealings with all countries "have always been on the basis of mutual respect and adherence to the general principles of international law, including the non-use of force as an instrument of national policy. We offer our friendship to all."

The statement comes after the controversial remarks of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian at the 8^th Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations on Friday. In the event, Huang noted the proximity of the new sites of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) to Taiwan and how the U.S. "intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait."

The Chinese envoy also urged the Philippines to oppose Taiwan's bid for independence from China "rather than stoking the fire by offering the U.S. access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs" in the self-governing island.

Huang's statement did not sit well with some lawmakers though the Chinese embassy had already said that his statements in the forum were taken out of context.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who earlier urged the Palace to ask Beijing to recall Huang's appointment to the Philippines, also backed the call of fellow senators for the government to prepare a contingency plan amid the rising tensions between China and Taiwan. But Hontiveros said that before making any contingency plan, the Philippines "must again first communicate to Beijing that their representative should not be making statements threatening our people."

"We heard the Chinese Ambassador's speech very clearly, so I hope he stops making excuses for his ill-advised pronouncements. My statement asking for the Palace to recall the ambassador still stands," the Solon said in this Inquirer report.