China Says There Is No 'Gray Zone' on Taiwan After Manila's Statements

The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to the 'one China' policy enshrined in the 1975 joint communiqué, but criticized the statements of the PRC embassy in Manila on social media as 'escalatory and undiplomatic.' Beijing responded by saying that on the Taiwan issue there is 'no gray zone' and called on Manila to uphold the 'one China' principle in deed. Manila reserved the right to take further diplomatic steps.

Sevara AzamovaFirst published on tafs uz 22 October 2026 at 21:462 min read

The key facts

The Philippines once again reaffirmed the 'one China' policy, citing the 1975 communiqué
Manila called the PRC embassy's social media statements 'escalatory and undiplomatic'
China's Foreign Ministry: on the Taiwan issue there is 'no gray zone,' Manila must back the principle with actions

Statements by Manila and Beijing

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday issued a statement in which it once again reaffirmed its commitment to the 'one China' policy, based on the 1975 joint communiqué of the Philippines and China. The document states that Manila 'fully understands and respects the position of the Chinese government' that there is only one China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. According to the department, the country's current regulations have for years reflected the consistent implementation of this policy.

Criticism of the PRC Embassy

At the same time, Manila criticized recent statements by the Chinese embassy on social media, describing their tone and wording as 'escalatory and undiplomatic.' In the department's assessment, such remarks 'undermine mutual trust and confidence' and hinder the improvement of bilateral relations. The department reminded foreign diplomats of the need for restraint and responsibility in public statements, especially on social media, noting that the embassy's statements do not reflect the long-standing spirit of constructive engagement between the two countries. Manila also warned that it 'reserves the right to take further diplomatic actions if it deems necessary.'

Beijing's Reaction

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular briefing in Beijing: 'On the Taiwan issue there is no gray zone.' She added that the Philippines must back the 'one China' principle with concrete actions, and that the Taiwan region's external engagements must strictly conform to this principle.