4月14日，中国驻菲律宾大使黄溪连在第八届“中菲关系马尼拉论坛”发表开场致辞。全文如下：
尊敬的菲律宾中国了解协会主席兰比诺、第一副主席黄奇昭、会长本尼迪克托，
尊敬的卡洛斯教授、吴士存教授和阿拉拉尔教授，
尊敬的提格劳大使、闫岩教授和波奎兹少将，
各位学者、各位朋友，
下午好！
很高兴出席第八届“中菲关系马尼拉论坛”，同各位新老朋友相聚。在当前地区局势不稳定不确定性因素增多的背景下，本届论坛以“管控分歧，共同维护地区和平稳定”为主题，可谓正逢其时。
中菲两国是一衣带水的邻居，和平相处绵延千年。尽管中菲在南海问题上存在分歧，但友好合作始终是两国关系的主流。双方一直就海上问题保持着密切沟通。就在上个月刚刚举行的第二十三次中菲外交磋商和南海问题双边磋商机制第七次会议中，双方再次就妥善处理涉海分歧进行了深入沟通，中方提出了包括建立共同渔区在内的多项倡议，就是为了进一步加强两国海上务实合作，更好造福两国人民。
中菲双方在南海问题上都有自己的主张和立场，有关分歧应由直接当事方在相互尊重基础上通过对话协商解决。这正是中方提出加强涉海沟通联络机制的重要原因。历史已经一再证明，任何挑衅行为或域外势力介入不仅于事无补，反而会使局势复杂化，使问题更加难以解决，并危及地区和平与安全。我们应该汲取历史教训，避免重蹈覆辙。
各位学者、各位朋友，
当前，台海局势也面临着新一轮紧张和严峻挑战。台海局势紧张动荡的根源是“台独”势力和美国相互勾结。美国顽固奉行“以台制华”战略，违背所做承诺，在同台官方往来、对台军售和军事勾联、助台拓展“国际空间”等方面持续越线挑衅，不断虚化掏空一个中国原则。
一个中国原则是中国同包括菲律宾在内的182个国家建立外交关系的政治基础和前提。台湾问题纯属中国内政，不容任何外国干涉。正如棉兰老问题同样属于菲律宾内政，菲方也不会容许任何第三方对菲平定棉兰老叛乱指手画脚。从这个角度看，就不难理解为什么菲在菲美《加强防务合作协议》（EDCA）项下向美新增开放四个军事基地会引发中国民众的高度关注和严重关切。
显而易见，美国企图利用EDCA基地干涉台湾问题，不惜牺牲菲和地区的和平发展。许多菲律宾政治人物和民众对向美开放军事基地是否真正符合菲国家利益提出质疑。“为什么新基地距离台湾咫尺之遥?”“菲律宾将如何有效管控美军在基地预置的武器?”“为什么菲律宾要为他国而战？”这些不仅是菲律宾民众的灵魂之问，也是中国和地区国家民众之问。
菲方有人声称向美新增开放四个军事基地是为了保护菲在台15万劳工的安全。中国是世界上最不希望台海发生冲突的国家，因为海峡两岸同属中华儿女，谁愿看到骨肉相残？但我们不承诺放弃使用武力，保留采取一切必要措施的选项，针对的是外部势力干涉和极少数“台独”分裂分子及其分裂活动。如果菲方真正担心在台15万劳工的安危，那就更应该旗帜鲜明地反对“台独”，而非向美开放紧邻台海的军事基地，这样只会火上浇油、推波助澜。
让美在本国和本地区增加军事部署，是否有助于维护主权安全和地区和平稳定？看看美军在世界各地留下的动荡、分裂和千疮百孔的烂摊子吧！答案非常清楚。坚持战略自主还是甘做附庸？法国总统马克龙给出了一个答案：成为盟友并不意味着成为附庸。
各位学者、各位朋友，
我期待各位围绕论坛主题进行深入和富有建设性的对话研讨，相信你们的真知灼见将为维护地区和平稳定提供有力的智力支撑。最后，预祝本届论坛取得圆满成功！
谢谢！
Remarks by Ambassador Huang Xilian at the 8th Manila Forum
Honorable APCU Chairman Atty. Raul Lambino, 1st Vice Chairman Mr. Jeffrey Ng, President Sixto “Noy” Benedicto, and other APCU officers,
Dear Keynote Speakers Dr. Clarita Carlos, Dr. Wu Shicun and Dr. Eduardo Araral,
Dear Panelists Amb. Rigoberto Tiglao, Dr. Yan Yan and Major General (Ret) Romeo V Poquiz,
Dear media friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon!
It gives great pleasure to join you at the 8th Manila Forum for China-Philippines Relations. With rising uncertainty and destabilizing factors in our region, it is high time that this Forum was convened and panelists shared their insights on how differences should be managed and work be done to uphold peace and stability in our part of the world.
Indeed, there are differences between China and the Philippines on the South China Sea issue. However, as neighbors across a narrow strip of water, relations between China and the Philippines are more defined by peaceful coexistence for over a thousand years and will continue to be so in the future. Friendship is always the main stream of our bilateral relations.
During the 7th meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea held last month in Manila, our two countries discussed ways to handle maritime differences. The Chinese side has put forth several new initiatives, including establishing a common fishing zone, to enhance our practical cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.
We each have our respective claims and positions regarding the South China Sea. Differences thereof should be resolved by parties directly involved through dialogues and with mutual respect. That is why China is committed to strengthening dialogue mechanisms between us. Provocative actions or bringing in external forces will not help but further complicate the situation and cause more problems, putting regional peace and security at risk. We should learn from history and avoid repeating mistakes.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace across the Taiwan Strait is under threat and faces severe challenges. The root cause of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait is the “Taiwan independence” forces colluding with the US. The US has obdurately attempted to contain China by exploiting the Taiwan question and breaking its commitments of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan. It has been crossing the line and acting provocatively on issues such as US-Taiwan official exchanges, arms sales to and military dealings with Taiwan and creating chances for Taiwan to expand its so-called “international space”, and kept fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle.
The one-China principle is the basis on which China has established and developed diplomatic relations with 182 countries, including the Philippines. China commends the Philippines’ adhering to the one-China principle. The Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair, as is the Mindanao issue to the Philippines. You will never allow any third party to meddle with resolving rebel issues in Mindanao. Likewise, it should not be hard to understand why the announcement of the four additional EDCA sites has caused widespread and grave concern among Chinese people.
Facts speak louder than words. Obviously, the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals, and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large. Many Filipino politicians and ordinary Filipino people are questioning whether opening new bases will serve the national interests of the Philippines. “Why are the new EDCA sites only a stone’s throw away from Taiwan?” “How will the Philippines effectively control the prepositioned weapons in the military bases?” “Why will the Philippines fight for another country through the new EDCA sites?” These are soul-searching questions of the Philippine people and also doubt by people in China and across the region.
Some tried to find excuse for the new EDCA sites by citing the safety of the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan, while China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. The Philippines is advised 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.
To know if increased US military deployment in another country truly helps to protect the host country’s sovereignty and security, one just need to take a look at the long list of mess left behind by the scourge of American military around the world, the turmoils, divisions and devastation. Answers will not be difficult to find. To have strategic independence or to be at the mercy of others? French President Macron proffered an answer: Being an ally does not mean being a vassal.
In conclusion, I look forward to in-depth discussions and insights on issues regarding the South China Sea and regional peace and security. I wish this Forum a complete success.
Thank you and Mabuhay!