Taiwan welcomes PH move to relax restrictions on official exchanges

Taiwan on Tuesday welcomed the Philippine government's decision to ease official engagements related to trade and investments with Taipei, noting that such move signals more "substantive" cooperation with Manila.

A memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 21 states that certain restrictions on the Philippine government's interactions with Taiwan will be eased to promote economic, trade, and investment ties.

"Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his appreciation for the Philippine government's pragmatic efforts to promote Taiwan-Philippines relations, and believed that the Philippines' new regulations will help Taiwan continue to deepen substantive cooperation with the Philippines under its comprehensive diplomacy," Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Taiwan, which hosts at least 115,000 Filipino workers, is the Philippines' eighth largest export market, ninth largest trading partner, and tenth largest source of imports, the MOFA said.

Manila and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties in deference to the One-China Policy. Taiwan is represented by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), which acts as its de-facto embassy in the Philippines, while its Philippine counterpart in Taipei is called Manila Economic and Cultural Office or MECO.

Taiwan, a self-ruling democratic island which separated from mainland China in 1949, is regarded by Beijing as part of its territory to one day be reclaimed by force if necessary,

The new Philippine government circular on Taiwan under the Marcos administration seeks "to further maximize opportunities for the development and expansion of the Philippines' priority areas of investment."

It amends the implementation of Executive Order No. 313, issued in 1987 by then-President Corazon Aquino, which banned all government officials from visiting Taiwan or officially receiving Taiwanese delegations due to the One-China Policy

"As Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. has repeatedly emphasized in the past, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is a top priority, and peace, security, and stability concern all countries. Taiwan will continue to work with its democratic allies, including the Philippines, to contribute to regional prosperity, peace, and stability," the Taiwanese MOFA said.

Chinese officials in Manila have yet to issue a statement on the new Philippine memo on Taiwan.

The 2025 circular, however, maintained that the travel ban still applies to the Philippine President, Vice President, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of National Defense.

Other government officials are allowed to go to Taiwan for economic, trade, and investment purposes, but must use their ordinary passports and should refrain from using their official titles.

The memo also eased the guidelines in receiving Taiwanese delegations in the Philippines and that Filipino officials may now host delegations from Taiwan for economic, trade and investment activities.

However, no agreements or memoranda of understanding may be signed with "any Taiwanese organization or agency without clearance from the DFA" and, when necessary, the Office of the President. —AOL, GMA Integrated News