Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo reaffirmed on Thursday the Philippines’ adherence to the so-called One China Policy, despite Malacañang’s order easing decades-old travel restrictions for government officials to visit Taiwan.

“Of course, we maintain the One-China Policy,” Manalo told reporters on the sidelines of the media briefing for the High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries in Asia-Pacific, which the Philippines is slated to host this month.

“I think it's basically to encourage trade, and investments, which we have been doing with all of our partners and so that's consistent, but it's still within the context of One-China Policy,” he added.

Manalo was referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Memorandum Circular 82, which eased the implementation of Executive Order No. 313. EO 313 had prohibited all Philippine government officials from undertaking official visits to Taiwan, receiving Taiwanese officials, or conducting any official activity related to Taiwan without clearance from the DFA.

Asked whether the Philippine Embassy in China received any comments from the Chinese government on the issue, Manalo said: “I don’t know yet, but our only concern is to try to promote trade and investments. So, that is how I view it.”

Taiwan, which is also a United States ally, is considered by China as part of its territory to be retaken one day — by force, if necessary. Earlier this month, Beijing conducted a live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait as part of its “serious warning and powerful containment of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.”