MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, recently traveled to the Philippines leading a delegation of investors, according to two senior Philippine officials. This visit has triggered a strong reaction from China, which warned the Philippines “not to play with fire.”

Tensions between China and the Philippines have been escalating due to disputes over islands and fishing rights in the South China Sea. Lin Chia-lung’s visit to manila and the clark Freeport Zone,a key industrial area north of the capital,has further strained relations.

Philippine officials have neither confirmed nor denied the visit. However,two cabinet members of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told The Associated Press that the Taiwanese diplomat was in the country “in his private capacity” to head a delegation of Taiwanese investors and business leaders in the semiconductor and other vital sectors.

The officials, who remained anonymous due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, stated that Lin did not engage in any official meetings with political or security figures during his two-to-three-day stay in the Philippines.

The Philippines adheres to the “One China” policy, which means it does not recognize Taiwan as an autonomous nation. China views Taiwan as a part of its territory, potentially subject to annexation, and opposes official interactions between Taiwan and other countries, especially the United States.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila stated on friday that the Philippines “consistently upheld” the One China policy, emphasizing its “clear and unwavering” stance. However, it added that “the Philippines maintains economic and people-to-people engagements with Taiwan, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and tourism. These interactions are conducted within the bounds of our One China Policy.”

The department also suggested that Lin’s visit was in a private capacity, stating that “no official from Taiwan (was) recognized as a member of the business delegation that recently visited the Philippines.”

Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong protest, asserting that the Philippines, by allowing Lin’s visit, provided a platform for “‘Taiwan independence’ separatists to engage in anti-China activities” and “severely violated its own commitment on Taiwan-related issues.”

China urged the Philippines to “stop pursuing the wrong course and return to the right track at once, stop playing with fire on issues concerning China’s core interests.” It cautioned the philippines against underestimating China’s determination to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Chinese foreign ministry warned, “There is a price to pay for trampling on China’s red line, and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the Philippines.”

“There is a price to pay for trampling on China’s red line, and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the Philippines.”

The “One China” Policy Explained

The “One China” policy is a diplomatic acknowledgment of China’s position that there is only one sovereign state under the name china, and that Taiwan is part of China. This policy has significant implications for international relations and trade.