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Palace turns table on China: Follow int’l law, PH no one’s chess piece
By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency
“The Philippines is no one’s chess piece, we are an independent country.” (Pexels photo)
MANILA – The Philippines is an independent country and does not act as a “chess piece” to any global power, Malacañang said Thursday as it took a swipe at China’s remarks about the country’s defense cooperation with other nations.
China’s foreign ministry earlier suggested that those who “willingly serve as chess pieces” for other nations would ultimately be abandoned.
The statement further called on some individuals in the Philippines to stop serving as “other countries’ mouthpiece” for personal political agendas.
The remarks came ahead of the scheduled visit of United States (US) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the country on March 28.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro turned the tables on China, saying that if it is really concerned about stability, it should then abide by international law.
“If China really believes in and is concerned about peace and stability in the region, they should abide by international law, they should also respect the sovereignty of each country,” Castro said.
“The Philippines is no one’s chess piece, we are an independent country.”
The Palace official said the Philippines is free to make its own decisions regarding defense and security matters.
“Tayo po ay independent at walang dapat manghimasok sa anuman po na desisyon ng ating pamahalaan (We are independent and no one can interfere with the decisions of our government),” she said.
The Philippines and China have been locked in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims entirely as it owns, including resource-rich features in the West Philippine Sea.
On July 12, 2016, the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention dismissed China’s expansive claims under its so-called nine-dash-line as illegal. To this day, Beijing continues to reject the ruling.
