On June 14, 2025, Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, attended the celebration of the 127th Anniversary of Philippine Independence. During the event, he emphasized the importance of Taiwan and the Philippines working together to address regional security challenges and uphold the values of freedom and democracy. Minister Wu also expressed his hope for further deepening bilateral relations between Taiwan and the Philippines.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a press release stating that Minister Joseph Wu attended the “Philippine Independence 127th Anniversary” celebration hosted by the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). This event also marked the 50th anniversary of MECO’s establishment in Taiwan.
The Chairman and Resident Representative of MECO in Taiwan, Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, along with MECO board members and other guests, warmly welcomed Minister Wu’s presence at this significant event that symbolizes the strengthening of Taiwan-Philippines relations and marks a new milestone in the relationship.
In his address, Minister Joseph Wu congratulated the Philippines on its 127th Independence Day and highlighted the increasing exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines since the implementation of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy in 2016. He mentioned that the Philippines had become one of the top ten countries sending tourists to Taiwan since 2024, ranking fifth globally. To further promote exchange, Minister Wu announced the extension of visa-free entry for Filipino citizens for one year starting from August 1, 2025, and expressed hope for reciprocal visa-free arrangements from the Philippines.
Minister Wu underscored Taiwan’s position as one of the top ten trading partners of the Philippines and welcomed the Philippine government’s decision to relax official communication restrictions in April of this year. He believed that this move would facilitate the promotion of the “Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor” and deepen cooperation in smart solutions, food security, and economic resilience.
Moreover, Minister Wu reiterated the importance of Taiwan and the Philippines joining hands to address regional security challenges and uphold the values of freedom and democracy. He expressed gratitude to the Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo for his stance on peacefully resolving issues related to the Taiwan Strait at the 2025 Regional Outlook Forum, and he was confident that Taiwan and the Philippines would continue to collaborate to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
In response, Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil reiterated in her speech that Taiwan and the Philippines are crucial partners in economic and regional security cooperation, sharing core values such as democracy, human rights, and peace.
She particularly thanked Taiwanese society for accepting and supporting the 160,000 Filipinos residing in Taiwan and acknowledged the hard work and contributions of Filipino citizens engaged in various professions in Taiwan. This mutual acceptance and support are concrete manifestations of the deepening bilateral relations and increasingly close exchanges between the two nations.
Lastly, Minister Joseph Wu, Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, and former Deputy Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, Rose Marie J. Arenas, joined in an impromptu singing of “The Moon Represents My Heart” accompanied by the melodious tunes of a violin, creating a warm and lively atmosphere that showcased the friendly ties between Taiwan and the Philippines.