Taiwan: China put pressure on Philippines after Marcos' congratulations

China has put pressure on the Philippines after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwanese president-elect Lai Ching Te, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Taiwanese foreign ministry thanked Marcos and "other international friends for their congratulations on Taiwan’s successful completion of elections."

"Taiwan smoothly completed democratic elections on January 13 and received heartfelt congratulations from more than 100 countries worldwide," the Taiwanese ministry said.

"However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has noted that since Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. congratulated Taiwan, China has been strongly pressuring the Philippines and making crude and insulting comments," it added.

Taiwan said while other countries were celebrating Taiwan’s democratic achievements, "China’s petulant response stands in stark contrast, demonstrating that China’s communist system does not understand the true meaning of democracy and flagrantly tramples democratic values."

The statement came a day after Marcos said in an exclusive interview with GMA Integrated News that the Philippines continued to adhere to the One-China Policy.

He added that his congratulatory message to the Taiwanese president-elect was "common courtesy."

"Immediately following the elections, China enticed Nauru to change diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China and instigated statements made by Solomon Islands, the Maldives, and Bangladesh disparaging Taiwan’s sovereign status," the Taiwanese ministry said.

"China has also pressured ASEAN countries to echo the fictitious narrative of the so-called 'one China principle'," it added.

The Taiwanese MOFA said it condemned "China’s malicious actions in the strongest terms and calls on all like-minded democratic countries to continue cooperating to help stop China’s authoritarian expansionism in the region and the world."

"MOFA once again expresses sincere gratitude to Philippine President Marcos and other international friends for their congratulations on Taiwan’s successful completion of elections," the Taiwanese ministry said.

"As a beacon of democracy and freedom and a bastion of human rights and the rule of law in Asia, Taiwan will continue to be a force for good in the world, staunchly safeguarding democratic achievements," it added. —NB, GMA Integrated News