In an interview on the “Facts First” podcast with Christian Esguerra, security and defense analyst Prof. Renato de Castro said China would prioritize reunification as an attack on Pelosi’s visit. | FACTS FIRST WIITH CHRISTIAN ESGUERRA
A security and defense analyst said the Philippines might be caught up in the tensions between China, the US, and Taiwan due to its geographic location and relationships.
In an interview on the “Facts First” podcast with Christian Esguerra, Prof. Renato de Castro said China would prioritize reunification as an attack on Pelosi’s visit.
“Reunification ang mangyayari, either by force or by peaceful means. ‘Di lang kukunin ang Taiwan, they’ll simply obliterate the separatists,” he said.
“Taiwan has developed their own Taiwanese identity, and they don’t consider themselves Chinese although they share culture. They have a sense of Taiwanese national identity,” he added.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last Tuesday, making a strong show of solidarity for Taiwan despite China’s threats of retaliation over the trip.
“China declared there will be a new normal between China and US relations, and we will be affected by that new normal relation because of geography and our relationship with China and the United States,” de Castro said.
There are 160,000 Filipinos in Taiwan, of which 142,000 are migrant workers.
“We do not have the military capability to evacuate them,” de Castro said.
“Naglabas na sila ng map kung saan nila ilalagay ‘yung five live-fire exercises niya around Taiwan. Isang portion doon pumapasok sa exclusive economic zone natin,” he added.
The Philippines maintains relations with Taiwan through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila. Alexandra L. Mangasar