Former Senator Panfilo Lacson has called on Filipinos in Taiwan to brace for potential conflict amid the rising threat of a Chinese invasion.
Lacson backed the earlier statement of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, who instructed Northern Luzon Command troops to draft a contingency plan in case of a Taiwan invasion.
Lacson emphasized that if the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) is already making such preparations, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Taiwan should adopt the same mindset.
General Brawner clarified that the directive is not in response to any “imminent threat” but is instead a “prudent measure” to prepare for possible scenarios.
He noted that the preparedness focuses on non-combatant evacuation operations, considering the presence of approximately 250,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
Brawner’s order followed recent military drills by Beijing, involving the deployment of its army, navy, air force, and rocket units to simulate a blockade of Taipei.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province and has long expressed its desire to bring the island under its control.
Taiwan has operated separately from mainland China since 1949.