Philippines Explores Deeper Cooperation With Taiwan To Protect Undersea Cables Despite Manila’s One China Policy

The Philippines is exploring closer cooperation with Taiwan to protect undersea communications cables and address maritime “gray-zone” activity, a Philippine diplomat said, as concerns over cable security grow amid tensions in the South China Sea.

Felipe F. Carino III, Manila’s deputy chief of mission in Washington, said the two sides were considering practical cooperation, including knowledge-sharing and capacity building, to protect their mutual interests around the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

The discussions are taking place despite the Philippines’ one-China policy, under which Manila recognises Beijing rather than Taipei. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has overlapping claims with Taiwan and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by Washington’s Center for a New American Security, Carino linked undersea cable security to regional tensions but did not name China directly.

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