'Don't play with fire': China warns Philippines after president Ferdinand Marcos congratulates Taiwan's new president
NEW DELHI: In an unusually strongly-worded statement, China on Tuesday warned the Philippines to "not play with fire", and summoned its ambassador, after Manila congratulated the winner of Taiwan's presidential election.
Beijing lashed out at the Philippines after president Ferdinand Marcos sent Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching-te a note on his victory in the recent vote, according to several media reports.
The highly undiplomatic comments from Beijing will likely deepen the tension between the countries, which have been jousting over contesting territorial claims in the South China Sea.
In a social media post on Monday, Marcos told Lai, a staunch opponent of China and its claims to Taiwan, that he looks forward to cooperating.
Expressing disappointment, Beijing's ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said, "The Chinese side is strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposes Marcos's remarks and urges Manila to give a responsible explanation".
The Philippines' foreign ministry shot back, stating Marcos's remarks were a way of recognising the Philippines and Taiwan's "mutual interests".
Mao, however, said the remarks were still a violation of the "one China" principle, a principle that Beijing says provides the basis of its claim to sovereignty over Taiwan.
Mao said Marcos's remarks were "a serious breach of the political commitments made by the Philippines to the Chinese side, and a gross interference in China's internal affairs."
"We are telling the Philippine side not to play with fire on the Taiwan issue ... and to stop immediately its wrongful words and deeds on Taiwan-related issues and sending wrong signals to separatist forces for Taiwan independence," she added.
(With inputs from agencies)
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