DFA: No deal with Taiwan on undersea cables

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has no special arrangement with Taiwan for the protection of undersea cables or for dealing with Beijing’s “gray zone” activities, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified yesterday, denying a declaration made by Manila’s deputy chief of mission in Washington.

“The department clarifies that there is no cooperative arrangement with Taiwan on subsea cables or other critical undersea infrastructure,” the DFA said in a statement.

“The department reiterates that the Philippines adheres to its longstanding and consistent One-China Policy, which was outlined recently in the statement dated 22 October 2026,” it said.

The DFA was reacting to reports quoting Manila’s deputy chief of mission in Washington Felipe Cariño III as saying during a seminar that the Philippines was exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan on protecting undersea cables and addressing “gray-zone” activity.

Cariño said this “pragmatic and practical approach” with Taiwan is necessary to protect mutual interests in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

“These are very important features that should be protected, so much so that we are exploring deeper cooperation with our friends in Taiwan,” Carino said, adding that the Philippines was doing so “notwithstanding our one-China policy.”

On Sunday, a China Coast Guard ship and two rigid-hull inflatable boats tailed a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel while it was in an operation to drive away a Vietnamese fishing vessel near Pag-asa Island.

According to PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela, the Vietnamese vessel was spotted in the morning about 2.7 nautical miles west of the island, near Sandy Cay.

Tarriela said the PCG deployed a high-speed response boat to drive the vessel from the vicinity.

But during the operation, a CCG ship with bow number 21581 and two rigid-hull inflatable boats followed the PCG vessel apparently to interfere in its operation.

“The China Coast Guard has no lawful authority to exercise any policing role within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, and its persistent presence in these waters is being closely monitored and documented,” Tarriela said. 

The operation marked the PCG’s seventh repel mission in less than four weeks to drive away foreign vessels from the Kalayaan Island Group.

“Under international law, the Philippines exercises full sovereignty over its territorial sea, where no foreign vessel may fish without authorization,” the PCG official said.

Last Thursday, the Philippine Navy’s guided missile frigate BRP Diego Silang and patrol ship BRP Emilio Jacinto conducted shadowing operations on the Chinese navy’s Liaoning carrier group when it passed through the Basilan Strait, the Western Mindanao Command said yesterday.

The PCG’s BRP Sarangani joined in the monitoring of the carrier group initially spotted northwest of Talulu Point, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, and later in the waters southwest of Maitum, towards the Celebes Sea.

A Black Hawk helicopter and an NC-212i aircraft of the Philippine Air Force also helped monitor the movement of the carrier group. The Chinese carrier group had its communication line shut down.

“The presence of the transiting carrier group was observed to be continuous and expeditious,” the Westmincom reported.

Reacting to the operation of the Chinese carrier strike group, former lawmaker Robert Ace Barbers said the Philippines will never be cowed by China’s show of military might.

“China must understand one fundamental truth: the Philippines is not a doormat, and our silence must never be mistaken for weakness. We will not be intimidated by aircraft carriers, escort warships or calculated displays of military power,” Barbers declared.

“If Beijing expects respect for its own interests, it must also respect the Philippines, our institutions and the men and women entrusted with protecting our maritime domain,” Barbers said.

He said what was also alarming was the carrier group’s switching off its automatic identification system or AIS.

“That is a direct challenge that crosses the line into disrespect. China must explain its actions instead of expecting the Filipino people to simply look the other way,” Barbers pointed out.

In a pastoral letter, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas asked the government to defend the country’s maritime rights firmly, but peacefully, saying the dispute is not only about sovereignty and international law but also about the welfare of families who depend on the sea.

“In the name of God, I ask the government to be firm and unyielding about what is lawfully ours and rightfully our people’s without provoking hostilities,” Villegas said.

“The West Philippine Sea is God’s gift to His people. Defending it is taking the side of the people whom God has favored by the gift of the sea,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has criticized the Philippines’ participation in the US-Japan Keen Sword military exercises, saying the war games could only heighten regional tensions and threaten communities.

In a statement, Bayan raised concerns over the deployment of missiles and other military systems, calling the drills provocative amid tensions in the region.

The exercises involve 45,000 Japanese troops, 11,000 US service members and forces from allied countries. — Delon Porcalla, Bella Cariaso, Mark Ernest Villeza, Ronquillo Villanueva, Roel Pareño, Enrick Saez

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