The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday denied that the Philippines has any cooperative arrangement with Taiwan on subsea cables or other critical undersea infrastructure.
“There is no cooperative arrangement with Taiwan on subsea cables or other critical undersea infrastructure (CUI),” DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel told reporters in a message.
The clarification came after Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington Felipe Cariño III discussed potential cooperation with Taiwan on protecting undersea cables and addressing so-called gray-zone activities.
The DFA said discussions at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) focused on protecting critical undersea infrastructure, particularly through stronger public-private cooperation in repairing and restoring damaged networks.
The department stressed that protecting undersea infrastructure requires coordinated efforts among parties that rely on these essential networks.
“There was no mention of gray-zone activity cooperation with Taiwan,” the DFA said.
The agency also reaffirmed the Philippines’ adherence to its longstanding One China Policy, citing its statement issued on Oct. 22, 2026.