By Michaela P. del Callar and Aytch S. de la Cruz
Tribune
Taiwan has retaliated against the Philippine government by ordering the recall of its arepresentative to Manila, following the Aquino administration’s decision to extradite 14 Taiwanese to China.
Taiwanese media, quoting a Taipei Foreign Ministry statement issued late Monday, said Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) Representative Lee Chuan-tung, Taipei’s de-facto ambassador to the Philippines, is being recalled over the “inappropriate†deportation of the Taiwanese nationals to China. The ministry also said it will strictly screen all visa applications of Philippine nationals who are seeking employment in Taiwan.
Teco officials in Manila would not confirm if Lee has already left the country.
Manila does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-governing island that has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949, but still claimed by China as part of its territory.
Taiwan last week warned that it will “reexamine†its relations, including cooperation projects, with Manila as a consequence when the Taiwanese, along with 10 Chinese nationals, were deported to Beijing, despite Taiwan’s early request to Manila to deport its nationals to Taiwan. This request was reportedly ignored by the Aquino government.
Taiwan is home to around 100,000 Filipino workers. Majority are employed in electronic assembly and manufacturing factories while around 20,000 work as caregivers, earning at least P30,000 a month.
Teco’s counterpart, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) expressed regret over the incident and appealed to Taipei not to let the incident harm its strong ties with the Philippines.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=37574.0