Taiwan-Philippines Ties: New Era of Economic Cooperation Dawns

Manila Eases Travel Restrictions, Paving the Way for Enhanced Trade and Investment

In a significant move to boost economic ties, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has relaxed travel restrictions for Philippine government officials visiting Taiwan. This decision, as reported by the Philippine News Agency (PNA), aims to foster greater opportunities for the development and expansion of the Philippines’ priority investment areas.

These restrictions, originally implemented in 1989 under former President Corazon Aquino, had previously prohibited Filipino government officials from official visits to Taiwan and engaging in official activities without permission from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

President Marcos Jr. signed the Memorandum Circular, with its contents becoming public recently.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr speaks at the sixth Indo-Pacific Business Forum held last year in Manila, Philippines.

Photo: CNA

The new policy exempts most government officials, limiting restrictions to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Secretary of National Defense, according to the PNA report.

Officials traveling to Taiwan for economic, trade, and investment purposes are now permitted to use their “ordinary passports and without using their official titles.” They are also required to inform and coordinate with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei, the Philippines’ de facto embassy in Taiwan, before their trip.

Furthermore, the updated policy allows Filipino officials to host Taiwanese delegations for economic discussions, with MECO needing notification at least five days prior to the meetings.

The memorandum clarifies that signing official documents with Taiwanese government agencies still requires prior approval from the DFA and the Office of the President.

In Taipei, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) welcomed the Philippine government's efforts to strengthen relations between Taiwan and the Philippines, stating that the new policy will deepen practical cooperation between the two nations under the framework of integrated diplomacy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that Taiwan is the Philippines’ eighth-largest export market, ninth-largest trade partner, and 10th-largest source of imports.

“As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said, the stability across the Taiwan Strait is the priority, and peace, safety and stability is the concern of all nations. Taiwan will continue work with the Philippines and other democratic allies and make contributions to the regional prosperity, peace and stability,” the ministry stated.