Taiwan and the Philippines: Partners in freedom and democracy

THE annual report of Freedom House on world freedom is considered as the oldest, most authoritative report on democracy and human rights in the world. Its recent “Freedom in the World 2014” report ranks the Republic of China (Taiwan), along with Japan, South Korea, and Australia, etc., as a FREE country. For this reason, Taiwan has won high marks for democracy and has exemplified itself as an Asian model for freedom.

The Philippines, like Taiwan, is also the pioneer of democracy in Asia. Both countries are true believers in freedom and democracy, and have taken pride in cultivating free, open, and civil societies. For years, our two countries have strived to uphold the protection of human rights and the promotion of the universal values of democracy, freedom, and rule of law. Both have put forth enormous efforts in empowering our respective citizens’ political rights and civil liberties, resulting in the successful formation of an open civil society. Our shared values have been amplified by common practices in a democratic electoral system, such as direct presidential election, and freedom of speech, etc. Both governments have also been actively responsive to the pluralistic views and diversified voices of their citizens.