Manila: The Philippines' One China Policy remains unchanged, but it does not prevent the country from pursuing relations with Taiwan, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday. The clarification comes amid China's objection to Taiwan's plan to open a representative office in Cebu province.

According to Philippines News Agency, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also asserted that Manila, not Beijing, determines how it implements its One China Policy. "The One China Policy does not preclude the Philippines from pursuing economic, cultural and functional cooperation with Taiwan," the DFA said in a statement.

The DFA stated that the policy remains "consistent, clear and unchanged" in accordance with the 1975 Joint Communiqu© between the Philippines and China, under which Manila recognized the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government.

The DFA cited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s recent statement that the Philippines and Taiwan are close neighbors with a long history of doing business together. Taiwan has announced plans to establish a representative office in Cebu, which would be its second in the Philippines after its Manila Economic and Cultural Office, based in Makati City.

The planned office is intended to serve Taiwanese travelers and businesses in central Philippines. Taipei has also proposed a Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor that would link with the Luzon Economic Corridor to strengthen supply chains.

China earlier urged the Philippines to adhere to the One China principle through concrete actions and refrain from steps it said could harm bilateral relations. The DFA stressed that it remains the government's authoritative voice in conducting Philippine foreign policy.

It added that it would continue to pursue diplomacy, open communication and peaceful dispute resolution in accordance with international law, while working with relevant agencies to protect the welfare of Filipinos on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.