A Philippine senator has called for Beijing to recall its representative in Manila “as soon as possible” following his “threat” to the Philippines to oppose Taiwan’s independence.
“How dare he threaten us,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement on April 16. “He, along with his country’s ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, should pack up and leave.”
Hontiveros referred to Chinese envoy Huang Xilian, who criticized the Philippines for granting the United States greater access to its military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Huang said the Philippines would “unequivocally oppose” Taiwan’s independence—instead of inflaming the situation by giving the U.S. access to bases—if it “genuinely cared” about the 150,000 Filipinos living in Taiwan….