Envoy haled over Taiwan

China has filed a diplomatic protest with the Philippines over what it said was a series of “negative moves” involving Taiwan.

In a statement issued over the weekend, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs, summoned Philippine Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz to convey Beijing’s “stern representations” and express “strong dissatisfaction” with Manila’s recent actions.

While the Chinese government did not specify the exact incidents that triggered the protest, it reaffirmed its longstanding positions on Taiwan and the South China Sea.

As of press time, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing has not issued a response to China’s latest protest.

Daily Tribune reached out to FlorCruz for comment on the Philippines’ response to the summons but has yet to receive a reply.

The Ministry of Education earlier issued a safety advisory urging Chinese students to reconsider studying in the Philippines citing recent public security concerns and a rise in crimes targeting Chinese nationals.

This is not the first time Beijing has summoned the Philippine envoy over similar concerns.

Last 29 April, Liu called Ambassador FlorCruz in to make “serious representations” regarding what China described as a series of provocative actions by the Philippines involving Taiwan and security matters.

In early April, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to discuss efforts to reestablish military deterrence in the region amid rising tensions over Taiwan.

National security experts have stressed that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could serve broader strategic goals for Beijing.

Justin Keit Baquisal, a security analyst at FACTS Asia, noted an invasion would enable Beijing’s military to “shift its focus to other areas of strategic interest,” including the South China Sea and Benham Rise in the Pacific.

Strategic buffer

“Taiwan has always been a key security interest for the Philippines because it acts like a strategic buffer,” he wrote in his post on X (formerly Twitter).

Baquisal emphasized that contributing to Taiwan’s defense through deterrence measures now would be less costly than responding to a successful Chinese invasion.

“There is merit in the Philippines contributing to military deterrence in Taiwan because it’s far less costly to deter China now than to allow China to invade,” he said.

However, any involvement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a Taiwan conflict would likely be limited, according to Chester Cabalza, president of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has emphasized that the Philippines has been considering all potential scenarios in response to the unrest in Taiwan.

“This is not new because we’ve been discussing that for a long time due to the significant possibility of mainland China crossing the channel between it and Taiwan to recapture Taiwan. This is just part of the preparedness that we as a country should be putting in,” he said.

Bersamin made the remarks following comments by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. who raised concerns about a potential Taiwan “invasion,” as China conducted military exercises in “multiple directions” around Taipei.

He clarified, however, that there was no reason for public alarm following Brawner’s statement, saying the Philippines has long been preparing for such contingencies.

“The context of General Brawner’s statement should not alarm the Filipino public,” Bersamin said. “The Philippines has been preparing for the eventuality of an invasion — not that we’re saying it will happen, or when it might happen — but preparedness is key.”