Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te is hoping to enhance Taiwan's ties with the Philippines as both island nations also champion democracy for their peoples.
Expressing his gratitude to President Marcos, who congratulated him for winning the Taiwanese election, Lai said he deeply valued the friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines.
"I look forward to enhancing our economic and people-to-people ties while championing democracy, peace & prosperity in the region," he said in a post on X, responding to Marcos' hope for "close collaboration" and a strengthened mutual interests between the two countries in the years ahead.
In a separate post on X, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Taiwanese government is also "eagerly" waiting to boost partnership with Manila for a peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
"Our gratitude to Philippines' President @bongbongmarcosfor congratulating #Taiwan’s President-elect @ChingteLai. We, too, eagerly anticipate fostering an increasingly robust partnership to promote our nations’ shared interests as well as #IndoPacific peace & prosperity," it said.
On Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines remained committed to the One-China Policy as Lai, who said he would neither support reunification with China nor pursue Taiwan's independence, was elected to become Taiwan's next leader, replacing outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen.