Teodoro Rejects China’s 'One China' Policy Demands

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung confirmed these plans, indicating the office would support Taiwanese travelers and businesses while strengthening economic ties, a move China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian publicly opposed, urging Manila to adhere strictly to the 'One China' principle.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. declared that his country defines how its 'One China' policy is interpreted and applied, asserting national autonomy in foreign policy.

While acknowledging the policy, Secretary Teodoro explicitly rejected China's attempts to dictate its implementation, emphasizing that Manila's approach is consistent with the normalization of ties in 1975.

The Department of Foreign Affairs further clarified that this policy does not preclude practical, economic, and functional cooperation with Taiwan.

Relations between Manila and Beijing are already significantly strained due to recurring confrontations in the South China Sea, which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

Adding to these tensions, China launched a Long March 12B rocket from the Wenchang space center on September 17th, with the Philippine Space Agency confirming that projected rocket debris fell within Philippine archipelagic waters, and local authorities reported hearing explosions and observing trails over Puerto Princesa.

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) issued a warning that rocket debris poses significant risks to ships, aircraft, and fishing vessels traversing projected drop zones.

The agency also cautioned the public against handling any debris found, citing potential hazards from toxic rocket fuel residue, underscoring the broader regional friction caused by such incidents in Philippine archipelagic waters.

Beijing characterized Philippine actions in the West Philippine Sea as 'publicity stunts,' a claim directly challenged by Secretary Teodoro.

Teodoro urged China to engage with the legal merits of the 2016 arbitral award rather than dismissing Philippine efforts, thereby highlighting the continued central role of the arbitration ruling in the ongoing bilateral tensions.

The Philippines initiated its case in January 2013 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), leading to a significant arbitral award on July 12, 2016.

China has consistently refused to recognize this ruling, asserting that it is null and void due to a purported lack of tribunal jurisdiction, despite UNCLOS provisions explicitly stating that the absence of one party does not prevent an Annex 7 arbitral tribunal from proceeding.

The 2016 award remains a primary legal foundation for Manila's claims, while Beijing steadfastly maintains its historical claims of sovereignty over the contested waters.

The Philippines is navigating a complex diplomatic path, attempting to maintain formal diplomatic recognition of Beijing while simultaneously asserting that its 'One China' policy allows for economic and functional cooperation with Taiwan.

Manila continues to press its maritime rights based on the 2016 arbitral award and international law, even as Beijing exerts ongoing pressure for the Philippines to align with its interpretation of sovereignty.