RP rejects Taiwan’s ASEAN bid

The Philippine government has rejected Taiwan’s bid to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo told reporters in a chance interview yesterday that Taipei is not qualified to be part of the regional grouping because it is not recognized by the United Nations as a state and it is not located in the Southeast Asian region.

"The ‘one-China’ policy has always been the policy. It’s only China that’s recognized by the United Nations. We’re members of the UN so we abide by the UN," Romulo explained.

Under the one-China policy, no ASEAN country is allowed to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The renegade province is seeking membership in the ASEAN to further strengthen its economic and political ties with the regional grouping.

A delegation from Taipei, composed of policy advisers of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, was in Manila yesterday and consulted with non-government organizations on its intention to join the ASEAN.

Professor Chen-en Ko, one of the members of the delegation, said there would be no real ASEAN integrated community if Taiwan were not included in the process.

Dr. Fu-Chen Lo, Association of East Asian Relations chairman, said Taipei’s contribution would be limited if it is not allowed to be more active in the region.

Romulo, however, explained that to become an ASEAN dialogue partner, a state must be a signatory to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) but countries that can accede to the TAC must be members of the UN. — Pia Lee-Brago