MANILA: “The Philippines is no one’s chess piece. We are an independent country.”
Undersecretary Claire Castro of the Presidential Communication Office made that remark in a briefing on Thursday (March 27) in response to China’s criticism of the anticipated meeting between local officials and United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Castro rebutted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s statement that any defense or security cooperation between the Philippines and other countries should not target or harm any third party, nor should it threaten regional peace or increase tensions.
Guo further claimed it had been proven that nothing good comes out of opening the door to a “predator” and that those who “willingly serve as chess pieces will be deserted in the end,” according to a report from Global Times.
Castro denounced this by saying: “If China really believes in and is concerned about peace and stability in the region, it should abide by international law and respect the sovereignty of each country.”
Hegseth will visit the Philippines from March 28 to 29, his first visit to the country.
He is scheduled to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a courtesy call in Malacañang as well as with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.
The Philippines and China have a long-standing rift, specifically over territories in the West Philippine Sea. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
