Philippine president congratulates Taiwan's president-elect, strongly opposed by China

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr_ has congratulated the winner of Taiwan’s presidential election, Lai Ching Te — who had been strongly opposed by China — saying in a statement that he looks forward to “close collaboration."

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday congratulated the winner of Taiwan’s presidential election, Lai Ching-te, saying in a statement shared on social media that he was looking "forward to close collaboration” and “strengthening mutual interests."

Marcos's congratulatory message is likely to be frowned upon by China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory to be taken under Beijing’s control by force if necessary. President-elect Lai has vowed to safeguard the island’s de-facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies.

After U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, China’s Foreign Ministry said that message “sends a gravely wrong signal to the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” claiming it goes against a U.S. commitment to maintain only unofficial ties with Taiwan.

"On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan’s next president,” Marcos said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead,” the Philippine president added.