Taipei: Taiwan is taking steps to open a representative's office in Cebu, the Philippines, as announced by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on Tuesday. The new office will mark Taiwan's second in the Southeast Asian nation, following the one in Manila, and is aimed at catering to travelers and businesspeople in the central Philippines, known for its tourism appeal.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lin discussed the plans during a radio interview prompted by a Nikkei Asia report published on Monday. While the exact opening date of the Cebu office remains undisclosed, the initiative reflects Taiwan's increasing diplomatic and economic engagement with the Philippines.
Lin highlighted that over 200,000 Filipinos currently work in Taiwan, and both countries have extended visa-free entry to each other's citizens, reinforcing their bilateral ties. Furthermore, Lin introduced the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor proposal, which aims to link Taiwan with the U.S.-Japan-Philippines-supported Luzon Economic Corridor, with the goal of enhancing resilient supply chains in the region.