TECO on Taiwan’s visa-waiver: Wait for announcement

Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office Representative to the Philippines Michael Peiyung Hsu on 8 September said Filipinos should just wait for an official announcement on the visa-waiver privilege Taiwan may give foreigners.

Hsu told Daily Tribune to "wait further for the announcement" of its Bureau of Consular Affairs or BoCA, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.

TECO's statement came as Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeanette Ou clarified that the visa waivers for qualified Asian states would be reviewed in their next round of discussions.

The visa waivers were merely put on hold, she said.

"Most of the (discussions on the) Asian countries haven't been resumed just yet, but I am sure they will be in our next round of considerations," she said.

On 8 September, Manila Economic and Cultural Office head Silvestro Bello III denied reports that Taiwan has temporarily suspended the visa-free privilege for Filipinos.

"When I received the report, I immediately talked with their ambassador (Hsu) and what he said was clear, it was not true," Bello said in Filipino in a radio interview. "His (Hsu's) explanation was that it's possible that there was a possible misunderstanding on Taiwan's announcement that Taiwan is offering visa-free entry to countries in Europe, the United States, United Kingdom, [and] Canada without mentioning the Philippines. "We are still enjoying the visa-free entry to Taiwan."

But as Hsu told Daily Tribune, it's best to wait for the announcement from Taipei itself. (With report by Gab Humilde Villegas)