‘Nothing new with AFP plan if China invades Taiwan’

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April 4, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  There is nothing new about Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner’s directive for soldiers to prepare for a possible invasion of Taiwan by China, Malacañang said, even as it stressed that the government is ready for the possible evacuation of Filipinos in the island.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Filipinos should not be alarmed by Brawner’s statement because the Philippines has long been preparing for a possible invasion.

“It is not new because we have been discussing that for a long time because of the great possibility of mainland China crossing the channel between it and Taiwan to recover Taiwan. This is just part of the preparedness that we as a country should be put into,” Bersamin said in a chance interview.

“The Philippines has been preparing for the eventuality of an invasion. We’re not saying when that invasion will take place, whether it will take place at all. What is important is we are not sleeping on the job. So the context of General Brawner’s remarks is just to announce something that we are prepared for,” he added.

Bersamin clarified that the Philippines does not intend to go to war and is merely bracing for possible evacuation efforts.

National Security Council assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said that Brawner was just relaying to the public that the AFP Northern Luzon Command is an integral part of the military ready to assist overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

China claims Taiwan to be part of its territory. However, Taiwan regards itself as an independent sovereign state.

In a speech delivered before the AFP Northern Luzon Command last Tuesday, Brawner instructed soldiers to “start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan.”

Pinoys in Taiwan safe

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has assured the families of Filipino workers in Taiwan of the safety of their loved ones amid a possible Chinese invasion.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the Philippine government has been discussing and preparing contingency measures to ensure the safety of Filipinos in Taiwan.

For its part, the Commission on Election (Comelec) yesterday gave assurance that Filipinos in Taiwan can still participate in the scheduled overseas voting, even with the possibility of a Chinese invasion.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia noted that Filipinos in Taiwan can cast their vote just using their cellphone or laptop because of the internet voting being conducted by the poll body. – Mayen Jaymalin