Philippines hopes for better ties with Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines -  The Philippine government is hoping to normalize relations with Taiwan after the deportation row that affected the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to the Chinese territory.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it was good that talks between the Philippines and Taiwan, through former Sen. Manuel Roxas II, would continue.

But Lacierda and Roxas would not comment on the agenda of the negotiations so not to preempt the meeting with Taiwanese officials.

“It’s better not to comment because it’s in a delicate stage of negotiations. For now, just a broad range of matters pertaining to rehabilitating the relationship and bringing it back to the (pre-deportation) level,” Roxas, who was with President Aquino in Indonesia and Singapore, said in a text message.

Lacierda also said he was not aware of what the discussions would be between Roxas and the Taiwanese officials.

“But certainly, it is for the purpose of trying to better the relations with Taiwan. And we view that as a welcome development. At least now there is an invitation from Taiwan for Sen. Mar Roxas to go back there,” he said.

Lacierda said the easing of requirements for OFWs going to Taiwan was a welcome development and that back-channel talks had been ongoing.

Earlier, Roxas said that even without a formal apology, the Philippine government sought understanding from the Taiwanese officials for the deportation of 14 Taiwanese nationals to mainland China instead of Taipei.

He said mutual legal assistance and economic partnership agreements, among others, were discussed with the Taiwanese side to repair relations.

Taiwan had welcomed Aquino’s appointment of a new Immigration chief and announced a relaxation of visa requirements for Filipino workers.

The development also came on the heels of the deportation of a Taiwanese national involved in electronic fraud to Taiwan.

Taipei earlier ordered restrictions on visa requirements for Filipino workers after the deportation of the 14.

The Philippines invoked its one-China policy to justify the deportation.

Former Armed Forces chief Ricardo David Jr. replaced Bureau of Immigration (BI) officer-in-charge Ronaldo Ledesma.

The Department of Justice also removed Faizal Hussin from his post as head of the BI Intelligence Division and appointed lawyer Maria Antoinette Bucasas Mangrobang as replacement.

“With these changes, the Philippine government has shown goodwill and regret,” Taiwan Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang said on Wednesday.