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The regime change in the island nation of Taiwan will
not affect the close relationship between Taiwan and the
Philippines.
“Taiwan and the Philippines are
close neighbors,” said outgoing Ambassador Hsin-Hsing Wu.
“Geographically we are very near to each other and even looking at
things from the economic and cultural viewpoint we have always had
very cordial relations.
Wu is concluding his almost five
year stint as head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
Manila, and as such is currently the expert on Taiwanese and
Philippine relations.
“Within the last four years and
eight months I have been in the Philippines there have been fourteen
agreements signed between Taiwan and the Philippines,” Wu said.
“These MOUs [memorandum of
understanding] form platforms for interaction and cooperation
between our two countries in the areas of health, agriculture,
tourism, customs, anti-drugs and anti-money laundering programs.”
Taiwan is also ranks number six
in the list of foreign trading partners of the Philippines with
bilateral trade volume reaching $7.199 billion in 2007. It is the
seventh largest foreign investor in the Philippines with a total
investment of $1.82 billion in 2007.
Currently there are around
170,000 Filipinos working and living in Taiwan.
The Ambassador belittled
speculation that the current political climate in Taiwan will have
an impact on Philippine and Taiwanese relationships.
Power in Taiwan is being
transferred to the formerly dominant Democratic Progressive Party to
the Kuomintang with the election of Ma Ying-jeou and Vincent Siew as
President and Vice President respectively.
“It will not impact the
relationship between our two countries as that is beyond Taiwanese
domestic policy. All MOUs and policies will be continued,” the
ambassador assured.
The Ambassador is slated to
return to Taiwan on May 19 where he intends to return to civilian
life.
--Katrice R. Jalbuena
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