WITH a similarly new government installed, Taiwan’s push for equitable distribution in its economy and target of more regional cooperation among Asean members mirrors Philippines’s thrust of inclusive growth and less dependence on former allied countries.
During the 105th celebration of Taiwan’s National Day in Pasay City, Ambassador Gary Song-Huann Lin said there are vast opportunities for the two countries to develop with its “in-synced policies.”
“The coincidence-nay, convergence of new administrations in the Philippines and Taiwan in mid-2016 could not have come at a better time. Taiwan’s new southbound policy of President Tsai Ing-wen and Philippines’s new more inclusive policies under President Duterte do complement each other synergistically and may prove to be the good fit for which the two close neighbors have been searching,” Lin said.
Lin added that prior to Taiwan enforcing its new southbound policy that aims to establish stronger trading and cultural relations with countries in its south, bilateral economic ties between the two countries have seen growth.
In his speech, the ambassador said Taiwanese investments for 2015 in the Philippines amounted to P5.46 billion. The two countries remain strong trading partners with Philippines ranking second among Asean countries producing $7.45 billion worth of exports to Taiwan in 2015.
According to Lin, bilateral cooperative ties between Taiwan and the Philippines include the agriculture and fisheries, energy, shipping and aviation industries.
Taiwan tourist arrivals to the Philippines also increased by 34 percent to 180,000 in 2015. Meanwhile, Filipino travelers to Taiwan slightly inched up to 139,000 during the same period.
Taiwan recently launched an e-visa online application process to make travel arrangements to their country more convenient and to attract more tourists.
Lin also reiterated Taiwan’s position against the One China Policy being pushed by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to unify Taiwan and mainland China.
“We hereby urge Beijing to respect the aspirations of the Taiwanese people and avoid unilaterally pressuring and forcing the Taiwan government to kowtow and acknowledge the PRC as the sole legitimate government of the whole of China and treat the ROC [Republic of China] as part of the PRC. Beijing’s threat, assertiveness and bully have become the origin and source of regional tension,” Lin said.
Among those present during the national day celebration were former President Fidel V. Ramos; Sens. Vicente C. Sotto III and Panfilo Lacson; former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.
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This is not the 105th national day of Taiwan. It is the 105th national day of the the entity known as the Republic of China, which began in mainland China and came to Taiwan when the Republic of China fled China in 1949. When the events leading to the formation of the Republic of China occurred, Taiwan was a colony of Japan, which it would remain until the end of WWII. There are times when “Taiwan” and “Republic of China” can be used synonymously, without too much trouble, but this is not one of them. It completely misrepresents the history of Taiwan and further confuses an already complex issue.