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Could Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian’s message that the well-being of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan might be undermined by the presence of US forces in Philippine bases have been, as President Marcos put it, “lost in translation”?
Huang triggered controversy when he spoke at a forum organized by the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (Apcu) on April 14 in Pasig City where he “advised” the Philippines “to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs” there.
The ambassador had no need for a translation and did not speak through an interpreter as he was reading his 830-word speech entirely in English.
He delivered it verbatim, as seen and heard on a Facebook live recording and based on a copy of it posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Manila.
He even corrected himself when he used words that were not in his prepared speech.
Huang gave no opportunity for those present at the forum, including journalists, to ask him to clarify his remarks as he left immediately after delivering his speech.
Former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos, who was one the members of a panel of reactors, told reporters after the forum that Huang “has the right to say that (about the OFWs) but it is also in their interest for nothing to happen to them.”
“He’s a diplomat so he has to say that,” she added.
Three days later, after his statement met strong criticisms especially from lawmakers, the embassy said on Twitter that Huang was “misquoted” and his remarks were “taken out of context.
