Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19) — China asserted that it is determined to fight back against any provocation made by other countries about the Taiwan issue.
\”China will never accept anyone making provocations on the Taiwan question and will resolutely fight back,\” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular press conference Thursday.
This was after the Philippines’ defense secretary called out the spokesperson for resorting to \”gutter level talk\” when she expressed China’s disapproval of a congratulatory message issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Taiwan’s President-elect Lai Ching-te.
READ: PH defense chief slams Chinese official for ‘gutter level talk’ directed at Marcos
But Mao Ning argued that China’s actions are \”legitimate and necessary\” to state its position.
\”The Taiwan question is at the core of China’s core interests and bears on the sentiment of the 1.4 billion Chinese people,\” she said, reiterating that Marcos’ move violated its \”One China\” policy. \”The One China principle is a red line as well as the bottom line.\”
The One China policy recognizes that Taiwan is part of China’s territory and that the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
READ: China tells Marcos: Don’t ‘play with fire’ over Taiwan issue
Mao Ning also urged the Philippines to \”stop wrong words and deeds\” on issues relating to Taiwan as it remains a sensitive and internal concern of China.
