Manila says 158,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan are safe amid backlash over Chinese envoy’s remarks

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian speaks in a forum on Philippines-China relations held in Manila on April 14. - CHINESE EMBASSY IN THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The Philippine government has assured the 158,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan that measures are in place to keep them safe, following backlash over the remarks of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian on soaring tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled island.

In his speech in a public forum on Philippines-China relations held in Manila last Friday (April 16), he told the Philippines “to unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 overseas Filipino workers”.