MANILA, Philippines: Filipino netizens stood by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. after he drew a strong rebuke from China over his congratulatory message to Taiwan's new leader Lai Ching-te after winning the election.
China lashed out on Tuesday, a day after Marcos sent Lai a note on his victory in the recent vote, warning the Philippines "not to play with fire."
In a social media post on Monday, Marcos told Lai, a staunch opponent of China and its claims to Taiwan, that he looks forward to "close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace and ensuring prosperity" with the newly-elected leader.
But China's Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Mao Ning, immediately lambasted Marcos, relaying their stern warning: "We advise President Marcos to read more to properly understand the history of the Taiwan issue so that he can draw the right conclusions."
In defying China's warning and supporting Marcos, Filipino netizens themselves echoed the President's position and congratulated Taiwan's new leader.
"Yes with President Marcos. Even if China doesn't recognize the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas), the Philippines still recognizes your One-China policy. Maybe you can also recognize the UNCLOS and remove the artificial islands you made in the West Philippine Sea, in the independent-exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, particularly in the WPS," netizen Nishren Marangit said in a comment on Facebook.
Another Facebook user Eduardo Jaucian posted on a Philippine news outlet's comments section: "Baka akala ng Intsik na budol ang Presidente ng Pilipinas (Maybe the Chinese thought they can tricke the President of the Philippines)."
Some netizens did not mince words, with Facebook user Esoh Chalbiz saying, "What an illusion China has. Is the Philippines a province of China? That its government has control over whom she will communicate [with]?"
In quoting the statement of China's Foreign Affairs Ministry, X (formerly Twitter) user @descartesrpm said: "Ibalik niyo muna sa amin 'yung mga isla namin and follow the international law (Return our islands first to us and follow the international law)."
This was seconded by Facebook user Fred Cee who said "Tuta ba nila ang Pilipinas na sila magdidikta kung ano ang dapat at hindi dapat gawin ng ating gobyerno?" and Facebook user Bob Ramos who said he "voted pink," but added in Filipino that he was happy that the President was not a lapdog of China.
Another X user @IamNinaGirl responded to China's statement with the post: "Ah, okay. Congratulations, President-elect Lai Ching-Te!"
"The gall of Beijing," wrote X user @IanEsguerra, with X user @ruminarist replying, "Beijing plays the 'peacemaker' in the global scene but acts the 'bully' to neighboring countries."
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had said that the Philippines and Taiwan share mutual interests, and that Taiwan is catering to nearly 200,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), mostly working in factories.
In a statement, the DFA clarified that Marcos' message congratulating the new Taiwanese leader "was his way of thanking them for hosting our OFWs and holding a successful democratic process."
"Nevertheless, the Philippines reaffirms its One China Policy," the department said.
A joint communique signed by late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in 1975 states that the Philippine recognizes the People's Republic of China as "the sole legal government of China," and respects the position of Beijing that Taiwan is "an integral part of Chinese territory."
Lai, a pro-independence Taiwanese politician, secured an unprecedented third consecutive win for the Democratic Progressive Party.
Beijing has branded Lai as a threat to peace in the region.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and vowed to take the democratic island one day—by force, if necessary.
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