Taiwan silent on reports foreign minister joined Philippines business trip

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed Wednesday that a business delegation is visiting the Philippines, but declined to say whether Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is part of the group.

The delegation is led by Deputy Agriculture Minister Huang Chao-chin (黃昭欽), Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) Chair Joseph Lyu (呂桔誠) and U.S.-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC) Vice President Lotta Danielsson, MOFA said in a press release.

The trip follows a May MOU between CIECA and USTBC to expand Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in third markets, MOFA said, adding that delegation members were agreed upon after negotiations with Manila.

Speculation grew after Philippine Senator Imee Marcos asked the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to confirm reports that Lin was in the Philippines. Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro replied that her department had no knowledge of Lin's presence, saying it had only been informed of a USTBC business delegation led by Danielsson. "My response is -- we are not responding to that question of whether there is a foreign minister in the delegation," Lazaro told lawmakers.

Marcos called Lin a "controversial, pro-independence advocate" and warned his reported visit could provoke backlash from China.

MOFA said the delegation includes representatives from the ICT, agriculture, ports, semiconductor, energy, logistics, manufacturing and tourism sectors. Their itinerary covers Subic Bay, New Clark City and Manila.

The visit comes after Manila in April eased restrictions on exchanges with Taiwan under Memorandum Circular No. 82, which amended a 1987 ban on official contacts. The change allows most government officials to travel to Taiwan for economic and trade purposes, though the president, vice president, and foreign and defense secretaries remain barred. Officials must also travel on ordinary passports and without official titles.

The circular still requires DFA or presidential clearance for any agreements with Taiwanese organizations. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry welcomed the new rules, saying they would help deepen cooperation.

Taiwan and the Philippines ended official diplomatic ties in 1975 but maintain close exchanges. The Philippines is Taiwan's third-largest source of migrant workers, with about 153,000 in the country as of August 2024.