China to ‘resolutely fight back’ if provoked on Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines — Denounced in the Philippines for her rebuke of President Marcos over the Taiwan issue, Chinese ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning has lashed back at Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., saying China is ready to “resolutely fight back” if provoked.

“It is completely legitimate and necessary for China to state our solemn position. The one-China principle is a red line as well as the bottom line,” Mao stressed in a statement shared by the Chinese embassy in Manila Thursday night.

Mao earlier chided Marcos for congratulating Taiwan president-elect Lai Ching-te on his election victory. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Marcos should “read more to develop a proper understanding of the ins and outs of the Taiwan question and come to a right conclusion.”

This did not sit well with Teodoro, who accused her of having “stooped to such low and gutter level talk.”

In her statement on Thursday denouncing Teodoro, Mao said “China will never accept anyone making provocations on the Taiwan question and will resolutely fight back.”

“We urge the Philippines to earnestly uphold the spirit of the joint communiqué of establishing diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines, adhere to the one-China principle and stop wrong words and deeds on issues relating to Taiwan,” Mao added.

She noted that the Taiwan question is at the core of China’s interests and bears on the sentiment of the 1.4 billion Chinese people.

“The remarks of the Philippine side seriously violate the one-China principle and the joint communiqué of establishing diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines, seriously go against the Philippines’ political commitments to China and blatantly interfere in China’s internal affairs,” she said.

But Teodoro said Mao’s criticism of the President was tantamount to an insult and that with her statement, she in effect debased herself, as well as China’s foreign ministry and communist party.

“But then again, we should not at all be surprised – being a nation and people enjoying the privileges, rights and freedoms of a democratic society – that an agent of a Party and system of government incompatible with our way of life and who routinely spouts state-sanctioned propaganda and disinformation would go that far and that low,” Teodoro said.