DFA affirms one-China; Taiwan to open Cebu office

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines' one-China policy remains unchanged, but it does not stop the country from pursuing economic, cultural and functional cooperation with Taiwan.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday issued the statement following Taiwan's announcement on Tuesday that it is preparing to open a representative's office in Cebu to use it to create a "Taiwan-Philippines economic corridor."

This would link up with the "Luzon Economic Corridor," a project launched by the Philippines with the United States and Japan.

The DFA reaffirmed the Philippines' adherence to the one-China policy, in accordance with the 1975 Joint Communiqu between the Philippines and China, in which the Philippines recognized the Chinese government as the sole legal government of China.

"This policy remains consistent, clear and unchanged," the DFA said.

The policy does not, however, preclude the Philippines from pursuing economic, cultural and functional cooperation with Taiwan, it said.