TAIWAN will be waiving more than P400 million in fees once they start implementing the visa-free entry of Filipinos starting September this year.
“The total [collection] last year is P420 million. But that is not our real concern. What is important is how we strengthen our friendship and mutual understanding, which is the core value of our new southbound policy,” said Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines and head of the Taipei Economic Cooperation Office (Teco), in an interview.
“In the future, when our mutual understanding reaches a certain point, certainly, there will be more Taiwanese businessmen who will invest in the Philippines; that is why we would like to introduce a visa-free entry to Taiwan.”
“[Our country’s] visa-free policy is part of our efforts to relax access of Filipino friends [coming in], with the hope our people-to-people exchanges will be more open so we can enhance our understanding [of each other’s cultures],” Song added.
Earlier, Taiwan announced the visa-free entry would be implemented this June, prompting many Filipinos to book in hotels or buy tickets in advance.
He apologized for inconvenience to affected Filipinos, saying the reasons for the delay were the old administrative procedures and agency consultations yet to be enhanced and completed.
“For those who already made bookings in Taiwan or cannot make it [before September], they can come to our consular office [in Makati City] with their documents, and we will try to facilitate the issuance of their visas,” he said, adding he will direct his subordinates to provide assistance to affected travelers or, if necessary, allow airline companies to facilitate their tickets.
According to Taiwan’s envoy to the country, applicants have to wait for only three days to secure their visas for the equivalent of P2,400, with an additional P1,500 to have their documents expedited and received on the same day they applied.
Conversely, he is hoping the Philippines, through the Manila Economic Cooperation Office (Meco), would also allow visa-free entries for Taiwanese visiting the Philippines, noting there were 700,000 of his compatriots who visited their neighboring country to the south last year.
“I had a conversation with Meco officials; they told me they cannot forego the visa fee because that is their only source of income. That is why I am suggesting the Philippine government should give Meco a separate income, just like what we give to Teco,” he added.
Song said they want to increase the two-way tourism traffic between Manila and Taipei so that both nationals would enjoy their respective cultures and scenic spots, lamenting the fact there were only less than 200,000 Filipinos who visited Taipei last year, compared to the 700,000 who went to Hong Kong.
“[The number of] Filipino visitors to Taipei is [lesser] compared to Hong Kong, although [our country] is much bigger and we have more variety to offer. So I believe Taiwan should be discovered because we have been overlooked for so long—maybe it is high time Filipino tourists consider Taiwan as one of their travel destinations, especially with the visa-free mechanism in place,” he added.
Collaborations and investments
Song said the waiving of the visa fees for Filipinos is also the core of their southbound policy, which is based on economic considerations.
“Taiwan is the closest neighbor of the Philippines and Asean countries; yet psychologically, we are far apart. We need to strengthen our relations with [those from the said region, as well as] countries such as India and those in South Asia, plus Australia and New Zealand.”
Presently, the Philippines and Taiwan are cooperating in tourism, science and technology and aviation, including culture and education.
He said the University of the Philippines and Taiwan’s southern university system have signed a memorandum of agreement to exchange students, researchers and professors, “and soon, the University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University and Taiwan University will sign their own memoranda of agreement.”
He said Taiwan had already established seven banks in the country, pointing out the many investments here, totaling $5.6 billion last year.
“This reflects the growing strength of the relations between our two countries,” he said.
Maritime concerns
REGARDING the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea issue, Song said Taiwan has taken notice of the code of conduct consultation and is appealing “that since Taiwan is one of the most important claimants of the South China Sea, we should also be invited to attend the multiple consultation mechanisms.”
“If this can not be done due to political difficulty, Taiwan should also be welcomed to attend the two-way consultations, for example, between the Philippines and Taiwan, as well as among Taiwan and Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.”
Once this suggestions pushes through, he said: “then indirectly, the bilateral agreements may be formed as part of the multicountry consultations.”
“Only when Taiwan is invited in the multiple consultations will the solutions be found. Because Taiwan, as a matter of fact, is in control of one of the four major islands in the South China Sea, the consultation will not be complete without [our country’s] participation,” he added.
According to Dr. Song, “Legally speaking, if Taiwan is not in the consultation, there is no obligation for Taiwan to abide by the result of the outcomes of the consultations.”
He said Taiwan tries to respect international laws, including the Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas), “but this will be a loophole to the solution to the South China Sea issue, which is not conducive to regional peace and stability”.
Touching on China’s reclamation and militarization in an area in the disputed marine territories, Dr. Song said Taiwan has always advocated in solving the SCS issue “peacefully”.
“Based on this concept, Taiwan is not supportive of any militarization of the islands”, he reiterated.
“We would like to appeal to all the claimants: We should keep the South China Sea as a peaceful region for all countries, to have common economic prosperity, but Taiwan’s sovereignty over this region should be respected.” The incumbent Teco head was referring to Taiping Island, internationally known as Itu Aba, the largest of the naturally occurring islands in the Spratlys. Taiwan has constructed a runway there, spanning the island’s entire length.
Taiwan has also rejected the ruling by the Arbitral Tribunal in the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which classified Itu Aba as a “rock” and, therefore, not entitled to a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
“We should have dialogues and consultations, engage in joint explorations and development and turn conflicts in the region into peaceful, ‘win-win’ situations,” the Taiwanese ambassador concluded.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano