China won’t interfere in the Philippine elections, according to a Chinese envoy.
CHINA — On Saturday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian ensured that China will not interfere in the Philippine elections on May 9, 2022.
Huang was asked about China’s thoughts on the 2022 elections and to shed light on rumors that China has a Manchurian candidate during the webinar hosted by the Philippine Association of Chinese Studies (PACS) on Saturday morning.
A Manchurian candidate, according to a report on Manila Bulletin, refers to a politician being used as a puppet by an enemy power.
The Chinese envoy said that China has a hands-off policy in the internal politics of other countries, adding that Filipinos have the wisdom to choose their own leader.
“It’s been our position that China never interferes in the internal politics of other countries. The election is an internal politics of the Philippines,” Huang said. “We believe that the Philippine people have the wisdom to choose their own leader.”
Huang likewise is willing to work with the next Philippine president and also hopes to maintain a good relationship between the two countries.
Since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016, the Philippines has shifted its foreign policy to other partners such as China despite the ongoing dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
However, the President has not expressed support for any presidential candidate and opted to “stay neutral” unless there will be a compelling reason for him to endorse a candidate.
“As for China-Philippines relations, that’s another guidance of our two leaders for the past five years. Our bilateral relations have picked up a new momentum that served the best interest of our people,” Huang said.
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Meanwhile, both Huang and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana agreed during the same webinar that the South China Sea issue shouldn’t be the sum total of the relationship between the two countries.
They both said that they’re looking forward to working together in other areas of cooperation even after the Duterte administration.
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