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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Taiwan welcomes PH move to relax restrictions on trade, economic exchanges

Taiwan welcomes PH move to relax restrictions on trade, economic exchanges

Published Apr 22, 2025 08:21 am

The Philippines’ move to ease restrictions on government officials traveling to Taiwan to promote economic and trade relations will signal a more “substantive” cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan (MOFA) said.
 

PH-Taiwan flags.pngPhilippine and Taiwan flags (AI-generated photos)
 

In a statement posted on MOFA’s website on Monday, April 21, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung expressed confidence on Taipei-Manila ties with the new development.
 

“Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung affirms the Philippine government’s pragmatic step to promote bilateral relations, expressing his belief that new regulations will help Taiwan continue to deepen substantive cooperation with the Philippines under the policy of integrated diplomacy,” the statement read.
 

On Monday, April 21, Malacañang eased restrictions on Philippine government officials traveling to Taiwan, now allowing them to travel there for economic, trade, and investment purposes as long as they observe strict protocols and limitations, such as the use of ordinary passports and the non-usage of their official titles.
 

Memorandum Circular No. 82, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, ended the decades-old Executive Order (EO) No. 313 signed by former president Corazon Aquino in 1987 that prohibits government officials from engaging in official activities in relation to Taiwan in adherence to the One-China Policy.
 

The Philippines and Taiwan have no formal diplomatic relations because of the One-China Policy, which sees Taiwan as a province of China.
 

Instead, Taiwan’s interests are represented by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), which acts as its de-facto embassy in the Philippines.
 

The Philippines’ counterpart in Taipei is the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
 

According to MOFA, Taiwan is the Philippines’ eighth-largest export market, ninth-largest trading partner, and 10th-largest source of imports.
 

“As Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphasized repeatedly, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are a priority, while peace, security, and stability are the concern of all nations,” the MOFA said.
 

“Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to work with democratic allies such as the Philippines to jointly contribute to regional prosperity, peace, and stability,” it added.

Related Tags

Ministry of Foreign Affairs PH-Taiwan CHINESE TAIPEI
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