Manila Denies Undersea Cable Pact With Taiwan
The Philippines says it has no arrangement with Taiwan on undersea cables. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said there is “no cooperative arrangement with Taiwan on subsea cables or other critical undersea infrastructure,” and that Manila keeps its One China Policy, the Philippine Star reported.
The statement follows remarks last week by Felipe Cariño III, a diplomat at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, who said both sides were exploring closer cooperation “notwithstanding our one China policy.” The department said there was “no mention of gray-zone activity cooperation with Taiwan,” according to The Manila Times.
Separately, US Representative Ami Bera told The Japan Times in Tokyo that a Democratic midterm win could bring congressional statements backing the status quo in Taiwan.
The clarification narrows the dispute over what was said in Washington, but it does not settle whether any cable cooperation will follow.