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Does Taiwan have a love-hate relationship with the Philippines?

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Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/07/07/20180706-taipei.jpg"/><figcaption>Taipei 101, one of the most popular tourism spots in Taiwanese capital Taipei. Photo courtesy of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - It may well be like a typical romance: highs and lows, good times and bad, conflict then reconciliation. This seems to ring true between the Philippines and Taiwan, long-time friends less than 2 hours apart by plane whose shared ancestry and cultural similarities have made their links indelible, despite occasional <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/05/15/13/ph-apologizes-killing-taiwan-fisherman">irritants</a>.A recent Taiwan public opinion poll captures this seeming love-hate relationship: while the Taiwanese rated the Philippines as their 2nd most hated country, next only to reclusive North Korea, they also voted the Philippines as “the 9th most-liked country,” the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) clarified to ABS-CBN News on Friday. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/06/29/18/ph-2nd-most-hated-country-in-taiwan-poll">PH 2nd most hated country in Taiwan: poll</a></li></ul>TECO did not explain the contradiction, but TECO Director Jerry Chuang said a single survey should not diminish strong ties between Manila and Taipei. “We should not let one public opinion survey cause unnecessary harm, if any, to the robust and cordial relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan,” he said in a letter sent to ABS-CBN News. Relations between the two sides have, in fact, been improving, Chuang pointed out. “On behalf of my office, I can assure the Filipino public that [the] Taiwanese in general are getting along very well with Filipinos. People-to-people interactions and exchanges have been increasing and growing over the years,” he said. “Taiwan and the Philippines share the same values of democracy, freedom of the speech, respect for human rights, civil society, and the rule of law. Taiwanese and Filipinos have a lot in common of being warm, friendly, and hospitable,” he added. <div>MORE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE RELATIONS</div>Just last week, Taiwan extended visa-free privilege for Filipinos, allowing Philippine travelers to stay there for 14 days without a visa until July 31, 2019. This new immigration policy <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/01/17/taiwan-visa-free-travel-begins-for-filipinos">began</a> late last year, and the travel boom has begun.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/28/18/taiwan-extends-visa-free-entry-for-philippines-thailand-brunei">Taiwan extends visa-free entry for Philippines, Thailand, Brunei</a></li></ul>Based on TECO figures, 290,784 Filipinos visited Taiwan in 2017, a 68.59 percent rise from 2016 figures. And the feeling appears to be mutual, with Taiwan being the Philippines’ 6th top source of tourists, recording 60,000 arrivals just from January to March this year. “These figures show the booming of our two-way tourism industry, and more importantly, the growing understanding of each other’s country and culture,” he said. (The Philippines considers Taiwan a province of China under the &quot;One-China&quot; policy.)Chuang said another extension of the visa-free grant is in the horizon: “We are considering the extension of granting visa-free status to Philippine passport holders upon expiration on July 31.”And Taiwanese romance, perhaps best known in the Philippines through the hit series “<a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/24/18/watch-meteor-garden-trailer-gives-fans-first-look-at-younger-looking-remake">Meteor Garden</a>,” is finding its way in the hearts of more Filipinos: TECO figures show some 8,000 intermarriages between Taiwanese and Filipinos.And Philippine workers in Taiwan--some 150,000 per TECO’s count --“are treated with dignity and respect, and their human rights are well-protected by the rule of law,” Chuang said. “The OFWs in Taiwan are fairly treated and relate [to] Taiwan as their second home. Taiwanese people deeply appreciate the remarkable contribution that OFWs make to the economic development of my country,” he said. Taiwan has also given higher priority to the Philippines in terms of trade, making the country its “gateway” to Association of Southeast Asian Nations members.Chuang said two-way trade between the Philippines and Taiwan was $11.97 billion in 2017, a $1.1-billion increase from 2016. Taiwan has also opened eight banks in the Philippines, he said. “All the above facts show once again that the bond between Taiwanese and Filipinos are growing stronger and stronger,” Chuang said. <div>HATE ISSUES?</div>The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the de facto Philippine embassy in Taiwan, had lamented the results of the survey but said on June 29 that it it would work to promote cooperation between Manila and Taipei.&quot;While the result of the survey is truly lamentable, we will continue to strive in our efforts to promote cooperation between the Philippines and Taiwan,&quot; MECO Chairman Angelito Banayo said after the survey came out. Banayo added that Manila was interested to find out the reason as to why Taiwanese nationals have such dislike for the Philippines.Ties between the Philippines and Taiwan were frayed when Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers opened fire at a Taiwanese fishing vessel off Batanes in May 2013, killing a Taiwanese fisherman.The incident triggered widespread public outrage in Taiwan and threats of economic sanctions against the Philippines. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/05/15/13/ph-apologizes-killing-taiwan-fisherman">PH apologizes for killing Taiwan fisherman</a></li></ul>The Philippines and Taiwan, along with China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, have a dispute over the Spratly Group of Islands. ------------READ TECO Director Jerry Chuang Chuang&#x27;s full letter below: Letter to the Editor July 6, 2018 ABS-CBN News Dear Editor, I am writing in response to your June 29 article entitled “PH 2nd most hated country in Taiwan: poll.” First of all, I would like to point out that the same survey released by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation on June 17 2018 also lists the Philippines as the 9th-most-liked country. But this part has not been indicated in your report. As the above-mentioned survey is published in Chinese, some Filipino media might only grasp part of the survey and miss other main points because of the language barrier. The misunderstanding might arise when the entirety of the said survey is not fully reported. We should not let one public opinion survey cause unnecessary harm, if any, to the robust and cordial relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan. On behalf of my office, I can assure the Filipino public that Taiwanese in general are getting along very well with Filipinos. People to people interactions and exchanges have been increasing and growing over the years. Taiwan and the Philippines share the same values of democracy, freedom of the speech, respect for human rights, civil society, and the rule of law. Taiwanese and Filipinos have a lot in common of being warm, friendly, and hospitable. Allow me to give some examples. Filipinos visiting Taiwan last year reached 290,784, posting a 68.59 percent increase as compared to the statistics in 2016. Taiwan is currently the Philippines’ 6th top tourist source market and has recorded over 60,000 Taiwanese visitors in the country during the first three months of this year. These figures show the booming of our two-way tourism industry, and more importantly, the growing understanding of each other’s country and culture. We are considering the extension of granting visa free status to Philippine passport holders upon expiration on July 31. In addition, there have been more than 8,000 intermarriages between Taiwanese and Filipinos. Also, 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan are treated equally as the Taiwanese nationals. They are treated with dignity and respect, and their human rights are well-protected by the rule of law. They enjoy the same national minimum wage and national health insurance plan. The OFWs in Taiwan are fairly treated and relate Taiwan as their second home. Taiwanese people deeply appreciate the remarkable contribution that OFWs make to the economic development of my country. Today, the Philippines is seen as an emerging economic power, the “hidden jewel in the Southeast Asia,” with a population of over 100 million and being the second largest populous country in the ASEAN. Allow me to offer my great admiration for the excellence you have achieved over the years. As the Philippines is poised for high and sustained economic growth and its market has become one of the most prosperous ASEAN markets, it has been prioritized by Taiwan as the gateway to ASEAN countries under the “New Southbound Policy.” In 2017, Taiwan and the Philippines’ two-way trade has increased by $1.1 billion amounting to $11.97 billion, as compared to $10.87 billion in 2016. Furthermore, in order to strengthen the business ties with the Philippines, Taiwan has already established eight banks in the Philippines. All the above facts show once again that the bond between Taiwanese and Filipinos are growing stronger and stronger. Thank you for your attention. Jerry Chuang Director Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines

Ties between the Philippines and Taiwan have seen highs and lows, but a Taiwanese official in Manila said relations between the two sides are robust as ever.

Ties between the Philippines and Taiwan have seen highs and lows, but a Taiwanese official in Manila said relations between the two sides are robust as ever.

Does Taiwan have a love-hate relationship with the Philippines?

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Does Taiwan have a love-hate relationship with the Philippines?

Tarra Quismundo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 06, 2018 07:36 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 06, 2018 08:09 PM PHT

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