Through thick and thin

Through thick and thin | Daily Tribune

Taiwan marks 14th in the Asia Power Index recently released by Australian think-tank Lowy Institute.

When we talk about Taiwan’s economic achievement, we commend the contribution of the 155,000 plus overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

With their ability, diligence and excellent skills, most of them are working in high-tech industry and contributing tremendously to Taiwan’s economic development.

Taiwan will take good care of the OFWs and continue to review our labor rules to further safeguard and promote migrant workers’ benefits and rights.

As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will staunchly uphold its free and democratic constitutional system, repudiate any violation of its sovereignty, preserve the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and remain committed to ensuring regional peace and stability.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan, calling for strengthened national defense, improved economic security, enhanced partnerships with democratic countries, and stable and principled cross-strait leadership.

Taiwan will steadily deepen cooperative partnerships with diplomatic allies and like-minded countries, and continue to serve as a force for good.

It occupies a strategic position on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, Taiwan Strait.

Our advanced supply chains hold the key to the next generation of technological development.

Its security is closely related to and mutually dependent on global stability and prosperity.

As mentioned in the communiqué of G7 leaders last June: “Maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity.”

In the First Philippines-US-Japan Trilateral Leaders' Summit in April this year, world leaders mentioned their concerns about the situation in the Taiwan Strait and emphasized the importance of peace, stability, and the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.

In an address in Singapore last May, President Marcos reiterated these concerns:

“By virtue of geographic proximity and the presence of Filipinos in Taiwan, we have a legitimate interest in cross-strait issues. The Filipino people have a long history of fraternal bonds with the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Peace and stability must prevail. Therefore, we continue to urge all parties to exercise restraint on the issue.”

The government of Taiwan welcomes joint efforts with the international community to ensure peace, defend democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific and looks forward to closer cooperation with like-minded partner countries, including the Philippines.

This year marks the 9th year since Taiwan launched the New Southbound Policy in 2016.

Under it, Taiwan and the Philippines have been implementing various cooperation initiatives in the fields of trade and investment, agriculture, medicine and public health, science and technology, human-resources incubation, tourism, OFWs, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, combating crimes and human trafficking.

Just like what President Marcos, expressed on X after the major earthquake in my hometown Hualien, Taiwan in April this year:

“Our hearts are with the people of Taiwan as they endure the aftermath of today’s powerful earthquake”.

A few days ago, Typhoon Krathon wreaked havoc in Taiwan.

Before it came to Taiwan, it was called Julian in the Philippines and also caused huge damages in Batanes and northern Luzon area.

Good or bad, we share so many things together. Let’s work closely to make our two countries better places to live and our region a safer and more prosperous land.