Oops, the Philippines used the logo of Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense instead of the People’s Republic of China’s.
Oops, the Philippines used the logo of Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense instead of the People’s Republic of China’s.
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday apologized to the Chinese government for the gaffe that DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong described as “technical lapse.”
The wrong logo was displayed on the banner announcing the turnover on Oct. 5 of 3,000 assault rifles worth $3.3 million that China donated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“Military assistance gratis from the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China,” read the banner, which hung above the stage as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua sat together to witness the weapons turnover.
“We have issued an official apology to the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China through His Excellency Zhao Jianhua,” Andolong said in a statement.
“We are fully cognizant and grateful for the support that the government of the People’s Republic of China has been providing us and we reiterate that the DND and the AFP strictly adhere to the ‘One China Policy’ as espoused by the Philippine government,” Andolong added.
