The Taiwanese government said it could take countermeasures if the Philippines keep its entry ban on Taiwanese over fears amid the coronavirus outbreak. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou warned that Taiwan has a retaliatory plan against the Philippines’ travel restriction but she declined to elaborate it further. “We will continue to communicate with the Philippines and explain that this is a one-sided and wrong decision by the Philippines’ health ministry, which has already affected the relationship between the 2 countries of Taiwan and the Philippines,” she said.
Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Chair Angelito Banayo said Taiwan could end up canceling visa-free privileges for Filipinos. According to Reuters, around 115,000 Filipinos are employed in Taiwan as factory workers and domestic helpers.
The Philippine Government decided to ban Taiwanese citizens from visiting the country in its adherence to a one-China policy. Same restrictions were also implemented by other countries as the World Health Organization (WHO) regarded Taiwan’s virus cases in the category for China. Taiwan has protested against WHO for its unfair decision of lumping them with China considering that they only have 18 virus cases while the mainland has more than 60,000.
Philippines’ Health Minister said it will thoroughly examine all factors and potential risks before it could affirm the lift of travel ban on Taiwan.All inbound travel from China and its special administrative regions Macau and Hong Kong have also been banned in the Philippines. The relationship between Taiwan and the Philippines has been affected by the Philippine Government’s decision to ban Taiwanese citizens from visiting the country.
The Taiwanese government said it could take countermeasures if the Philippines keep its entry ban on Taiwanese over fears amid the coronavirus outbreak. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou warned that Taiwan has a retaliatory plan against the Philippines’ travel restriction. The current travel ban imposed by the Philippines on Taiwanese citizens is part of a broader set of measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) decision to regard Taiwan’s virus cases in the category for China has been a point of contention for Taiwan. Taiwan has protested against WHO for its unfair decision of lumping them with China considering that they only have 18 virus cases while the mainland has more than 60,000. The potential retaliation by Taiwan against the Philippines, including the possible cancellation of visa-free privileges for Filipinos, underscores the delicate balance of power in their bilateral relationship.
Around 115,000 Filipinos are employed in Taiwan as factory workers and domestic helpers. The Philippine Government decided to ban Taiwanese citizens from visiting the country in its adherence to a one-China policy.
The Philippine government’s adherence to a one-China policy has been a longstanding aspect of its foreign policy. The current dispute over the travel ban highlights the complexities and challenges of navigating these competing interests and loyalties, and the need for careful diplomacy and communication to resolve the issue and maintain a stable relationship between the two countries. The Philippines’ Health Minister said it will thoroughly examine all factors and potential risks before it could affirm the lift of travel ban on Taiwan.
