Taiwan welcomes PH move to ease restrictions on economic, trade engagements
Metro Manila, Philippines - Taiwan welcomed the Philippine government’s decision to ease restrictions on unofficial engagements, calling it a pragmatic step toward strengthening economic and trade ties.
Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung said the move reflects a practical approach that will help deepen “substantive cooperation” on both sides, especially in areas of mutual economic interest.
The development follows the issuance of Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 82, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 15. The circular refines the scope of Executive Order No. 313 issued in 1987, which broadly prohibited government officials from traveling to Taiwan or engaging with Taiwanese representatives without clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
While reaffirming the Philippine commitment to the One China Policy, MC 82 opens the door to limited, unofficial interactions, particularly those related to trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
Under the One China Policy, the Philippines, like most countries, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China and does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which the PRC considers a breakaway province.
The circular clarifies that only the president, vice president, and Cabinet-level officials from the DFA and Department of National Defense remain strictly barred from visiting Taiwan or holding meetings with its representatives.
Other government officials may now travel to Taiwan under certain conditions:
+ They must use ordinary (non-official) passports
+ Avoid the use of official titles
+ Coordinate their visits through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), which serves as the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan for non-political functions
+ Submit a post-visit report to MECO and DFA
+ Notify MECO of any planned meetings with Taiwanese delegations at least five days before the visit
Similar guidelines will apply to visits of Taiwanese delegations to the Philippines for economic and trade-related purposes.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the strong economic relationship between the two, citing Taiwan as the Philippines’ eighth-largest export market, ninth-largest trading partner, and 10th-largest source of imports.
The ministry also welcomed the Philippine government’s consistent position that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is a matter of regional and global concern.
“Taiwan will continue to work with democratic partners such as the Philippines to promote peace, stability, and shared prosperity in the region,” the ministry said.
MC 82 took effect immediately. It prohibits the signing of agreements, memoranda, or exchanges of notes with Taiwanese entities without prior DFA clearance and, when necessary, approval from the Office of the President.
