The one-China principle is the political prerequisite and foundation for the establishment and development of diplomatic relations between China and foreign countries. On June 9, 1975, late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. signed in Beijing the Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. In this Communiqué, the Philippine Government recognizes 'the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, fully understands and respects the position of the Chinese Government that there is but one China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory, and decides to remove all its official representations from Taiwan within one month from the date of signature of this Communiqué'.

We appreciate the implementation of the one-China policy by successive Philippine governments in the 49 years since the establishment of our diplomatic relations. Such an attitude of the Philippine society towards the Taiwan question has not been questioned or challenged. Yet we have noticed with deep concern some jarring noise by certain individuals in the Philippines acting in contravention of the one-China principle under the disguise of economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchange.