On April 22, 2025, the Philippines President’s Office issued a memorandum circular to relax restrictions on officials’ interactions with Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China welcomed the pragmatic attitude of the Philippine government in continuing to deepen the interaction between the two countries.
The Official Gazette of the Philippines government announced on the 21st
Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 82
(Memorandum Circular), which relaxed the restrictions on officials’ exchanges between Taiwan set by former President Corazon Aquino’s Executive Order No. 313 in 1989, in order to expand opportunities to attract Taiwanese investment and promote economic cooperation and development.
On the 21st, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a press release stating that the Philippine government announced on April 21st the Circular No. 82 signed by the Secretary of Civil Service, Lucas Bersamin, stating that in promoting economic and trade relations and investment cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines, some restrictions in the interaction between the Philippine government and our country will be relaxed.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, Joseph Wu, praised the Philippine government’s pragmatic promotion of Taiwan-Philippine relations and believed that the new regulations in the Philippines would help deepen substantial cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines under the concept of “comprehensive diplomacy”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China emphasized that Taiwan is the 8th largest export market, 9th largest trading partner, and 10th largest source of imports for the Philippines. As President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., of the Philippines, has repeatedly emphasized in the past, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are top priorities. Peace, security, and stability are crucial to all countries. Taiwan will continue to work with the Philippines and other democratic allies to contribute to regional prosperity, peace, and stability.