President Marcos is looking forward to a closer relationship with Taiwan as he congratulated President-elect Lai Ching-te on his recent poll victory.

Marcos expressed his well-wishes and intention to forge stronger ties with Taiwan in an X (formerly Twitter) post on Monday evening, Jan. 15.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I congratulate President-elect Lai Ching-te on his election as Taiwan's next President,” he said.

“We look forward to close collaboration, strengthening mutual interests, fostering peace, and ensuring prosperity for our peoples in the years ahead,” he added.

Lai, who is from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won in the recent polls despite reported warnings from China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory, not to vote for him.

Lai ran against Hou Yu-ih from the conservative Kuomintang (KMT) and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je from the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP).

On Sunday, Jan. 14, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines remains committed to its One-China Policy following the recently concluded elections in Taiwan.

In a statement, the DFA said it reaffirms the principles contained in the Joint Communique of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the People’s Republic of China signed by the late former president Ferdinand Marcos and Premier Zhou Enlai on June 9, 1975.

“The Philippines is committed to its One-China Policy,” it said.

“The Joint Communique states that ‘the two Governments agree to settle all disputes by peaceful means… without resorting to the use or threat of force,’” it added.