China summons PH ambassador after Marcos congratulates Taiwan’s Lai

National flags are placed outside a room where Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and China’s Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng address reporters after their meeting in Beijing, China, January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/Files

BEIJING — China on Tuesday summoned the ambassador from the Philippines and warned the country “not to play with fire” after its President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday congratulated Taiwan’s president-elect Lai Ching-te on his election victory.

“President Marcos gravely violated the one China principle, went against political commitments to China, and interfered in China’s internal affairs,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

The Philippines’ foreign ministry on Tuesday reaffirmed the country’s “One China policy” after Marcos’ comment.