The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified that the Philippines has no cooperative arrangement with Taiwan concerning the protection of undersea cables or other critical underwater infrastructure.
The clarification followed remarks by Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington Felipe Cariño III, who said Manila was exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan to protect shared interests in the Bashi Channel.
The DFA reiterated that the Philippines continues to adhere to its longstanding One-China Policy.
The issue has drawn attention amid growing regional tensions and concerns over the security of undersea communications networks linking countries across Asia.
The department emphasized the importance of protecting critical infrastructure through cooperation among relevant stakeholders while maintaining the country’s established foreign policy.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 27, 2026
