Philippines–Taiwan relations

Philippines - Taiwan relations

Philippines	Taiwan

Philippines–Taiwan relations are foreign relations between the Philippines and Taiwan. The Philippines recognize the One China Policy but has relations to Taiwan (also known as the Republic of China) through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila. Both offices were established in 1975 and were organized as non-profit and non-stock private corporations.

History

By early March 2011, the Philippines deported 15 Taiwanese drug pushers to Beijing,China. Taiwan protested against this action. The Philippine government sent Manuel Roxas II to talk with Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. During the visit, Roxas mentioned that the Philippines "regret" their actions. But Taiwan maintained that the Philippines apologize for their action. The mission failed, so a second one was sent, headed again by Roxas. The mission, however, failed. From then on, Taiwan-Philippine relations became strained.

Bilateral relation

The strong Taiwanese economy, particularly in the manufacturing industries, attracts cheap manual labor from the Philippines. Most Filipinos working in Taiwan work as factory workers, domestic workers, construction workers, fishermen and professionals and they would send a large part of their earnings to their families in the Philippines. Many Taiwanese men have also chosen Filipino women as brides through arranged marriages. An estimated 7,000 Filipino women now live there with their Taiwanese husbands. Filipino laborers in Taiwan are usually vulnerable to exploitation by their employers, a situation common to unskilled migrant workers all over the world. The Taiwanese government has been receptive to the cases involving mistreatment of Filipino workers in Taiwan. Filipino migrant caretakers in Taiwan have to go through a broker system that collects most of their monthly earnings, demands long work hours without overtime pay, and offers no days off. Some caretakers have to work for 24 hours a day. Home caretakers typically receive monthly salaries much lower than the standard set by the government because they are not covered by Taiwan's Labor Standards Act.

Economic relation

The total Investment Amount between the Philippines and Taiwan reached up to US$1.1 billion. Taiwan is the 5th largest foreign investor in the Philippines.

• Philippine Exports to Taiwan: US$3.1 billion
• Philippine Imports from Taiwan: US$2.3 billion

Others

There are about 77,933 Filipino workers in Taiwan, with 53,868 of them working in the manufacturing sector and 22,994 people working as caregivers. Philippine holidays such as Independence day and José Rizal's birthday are also celebrated by the Filipino community in Taiwan. Taiwanese tourist in the Philippines makes up 73,000 people, the 5th in foreign tourist arrivals in the Philippines)

Conflict

On 9 May 2013, 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng was gunned down by the Philippine coast guard in open seas. Following the incident, Taiwan imposed sanctions on the Philippines, including the freeze of Filipino hires. The Taiwan military conducted exercises in waters between Taiwan and the Philippines.

See also

• 2013 Kuang Ta Hsing No.28 incident