Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu discussed Taiwan’s relationship with its nearest southern neighbor during an interview with The Philippine Star June 27 for an article released in print and online June 29.
China’s expansionism reaches beyond Taiwan, the minister said, encouraging the Philippines to consider the implications of China’s actions in the East and South China Seas. Wu noted the benefits of cooperating with Taiwan on disaster response, sea patrols and security, as well as in the more general fields of agriculture, tourism and trade.
The minister applauded Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his opposition to a change in the status quo and support for regional peace and stability. Wu added that this bodes well for the expansion of bilateral relations between Taiwan and the Philippines.
The minister also acknowledged the contributions of overseas Filipino workers to Taiwan, adding that discussions are underway about extending the duration of their stays. He expressed his hopes that the government of the Philippines will soon offer visa exemption status for travelers on Taiwan passports in the spirit of facilitating exchanges between the two countries. (POC-E)
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