A social call

Since February 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the security threat posed by authoritarian expansion. As we speak, the rules- based international order faces unprecedented challenges. This threat is increasing in the Indo-Pacific, amid continued authoritarian expansion as well.

China's persistent live-fire military drills, gray-zone operations and incursions with fighter jets, naval and militia vessels and drones crossing medium line and into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone undermine the peace and stability across the Indo Pacific.

These irresponsible actions not only encroach on Taiwan's sovereignty but also endanger air and maritime safety, as well as international trade.

The government of Taiwan is dedicated to building a consistent, predictable and sustainable cross-strait relationship.

President Tsai Ing-wen has reiterated that maintaining peace and status quo is the unwavering position of Taiwan and the interests of all.

The government is willing to maintain positive interactions and stable development across the Taiwan Strait based on "peace, parity, democracy and dialogue."

At the same time, Taiwan will continue with unwavering determination to enhance its self-defense capabilities by developing non-traditional asymmetric military capabilities, fortifying its defenses against cyber and cognitive warfare, and collaborating closely with like-minded partners.

Taiwan will continue to upgrade its security partnerships and contribute to jointly defending the rules-based international order.

Taiwan being on the frontline against China's expansion and threats, it is heartening to know that Taiwan is not alone in facing such an aggression.

We deeply appreciate the support from the international democratic community, elected officials, and many other like-minded partners around the world in emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

For example, during the recent G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting in September, they reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, conveyed their serious concern about the East and South China Seas situation, and expressed strong opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo by force or coercion.

G7 ministers also reiterated their support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with US President Joe Biden in May this year, they released a statement reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity.

We firmly believe only with the joint efforts and cooperation among like-minded democratic countries will we be able to resist authoritarian expansionism.

This year marks the 8th year since Taiwan launched the New Southbound Policy in 2016. Under this policy, Taiwan and the Philippines have been implementing various cooperation initiatives in the fields of trade and investment, agriculture, human resources development, tourism, OFWs, humanitarian assistance, and combating crimes and human trafficking.

The bilateral trade between Taiwan and the Philippines in 2022 reaches $10.72 billion with a double-digit annual growth of 18.2 percent.

This year, we witnessed the Sercomm Philippine Inc. holding the grand opening of its new and advanced factory center in May. With more than P2.5-billion investment, the manufacturing center is expected to hire 5,000 employees.

In addition, Gogoro, together with Ayala Corp. and 917Ventures, are going to introduce Gogoro's smart scooters and battery-swapping system in Metro Manila by end-2023.

During the post-pandemic era, food security is a common concern of the international community. Taiwan is willing to share its expertise on agriculture with our closest neighbor: the Philippines.

The Taiwan Technical Mission was established in 2022 in Tarlac City. Through the dispatchment of three agriculture experts, we are aiming to share Taiwan's agricultural development experiences with farmers in the Philippines.

The TTM is scheduled to be officially inaugurated around the end of November.

We have also launched the "Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan" since 2021, which is an 11-month hands-on internship program in different farms in Taiwan.

We have already sent three batches, a total of 126 Filipino young farmers to Taiwan. Starting next year, we will invite 100 Filipino young farmers every year to Taiwan for this internship training.

The government of Taiwan has granted scholarship to 70 outstanding Filipino students who want to pursue bachelor's, master's, doctoral degrees or Mandarin studies in Taiwan.

Currently, there are more than 3,000 Filipino students in Taiwan studying degree programs and Mandarin.

In terms of tourism, the Philippines is known globally for its natural beauty, magnificent scenery and friendly people.

The Philippine tourism market has huge potential to attract Taiwanese tourists as Taiwan and the Philippines are the geographically closest neighbors. And, every week, there are 130 flights between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Taiwan was ranked the 5th top source of tourists to the Philippines with 330,000 people in 2019.

The visa-waiver program Taiwan has provided for Philippine nationals has been extended to 31 July 2024. From January to August this year, 215,600 Filipinos have visited Taiwan. We are expecting more than 320,000 Filipino tourists to visit Taiwan in 2023.

We sincerely hope that the government of the Philippines can also reciprocate to provide Taiwan nationals with visa-waiver treatment in the future to attract more Taiwanese tourists to the Philippines.

When we talk about Taiwan's economic achievement, we have to commend the contribution of the 152,500-plus overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan. With their ability, diligence and good communication skills. Most of them are working in high-tech industry and contributing tremendously to both Taiwan and the Philippines' economic development.

According to the Bangko Sentral, OFWs in Taiwan have remitted more than $507 million back to the Philippines from January to July this year.

I express our gratitude to all OFWs working in Taiwan. Please rest assured that my government will take good care of OFWs and continue to review our labor rules to further promote migrant-workers' benefits and rights.

Due to the geographical proximity between Taiwan and the Philippines, we face similar natural disasters.

Considering Taiwan's experiences in disaster prevention and mitigation, disaster-relief capabilities, technology and technical resources, and also the in the spirit of bayanihan and camaraderie, we have close cooperation in the field of humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Since 2018, Taiwan has invited 15 delegations, a total of 215 firefighters and related officials from the Philippines for Fire and Special Search and Rescue Training.

More important, Taiwan and the Philippines share the common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and protection of human rights.

I have full confidence in the further enhancement of the mutually beneficial relations between Taiwan and the Philippines.

The commentary is an excerpt from the Taiwanese ambassador's recent Double Ten address to the Philippines. Taiwan has stayed in its trajectory as a global leader in many fronts, owing to its place in competitive indices and bullish economy.