China cautions Philippines on hasty deportation of Chinese workers–Palace

MANILA, Philippines — China has warned the Philippines that recklessly deporting Chinese workers might affect the status of Filipino workers in China, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo revealed Tuesday.

Panelo issued the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte, in a speech in Biñan City, Laguna on Sunday, declared that he would allow Chinese workers to stay in the Philippines following concerns that some are skirting Philippine labor laws.

Duterte said he could not just order the deportation of Chinese workers in the country.

“The Chinese here, just let them work here. Just let them. Why? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China. That’s why I cannot just say, leave. I will deport you. What if the 300,000 (Filipinos in China) are suddenly kicked out?” he said.

Asked about the President’s fear that China might initiate retaliatory measures, Panelo said it was what Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told him over a recent dinner if the deportation of Chinese workers is done  “not in accordance with law” and “if we do it recklessly.”

“In fact, that is what the Chinese ambassador told me during dinner,” he said.

“That if this government will just deport Chinese not in accordance with law then we will also do the same. That’s tit for tat,” he added. / gsg

READ: Duterte: Allow illegal Chinese to work here