A special envoy from the Philippines yesterday met Foreign Minister Timothy Yang (楊進添), but did not offer an apology for the recent diplomatic fracas between Manila and Taipei, describing it as a “misunderstanding.”
“I bring with me my president’s good wishes for you, President Ma [Ying-jeou (馬英九)] and the Taiwanese people, and his sincere and deep desire to mend whatever misunderstandings and difficulties this recent unfortunate event might have caused in our otherwise good relationship,” said Senator Manuel Roxas, who was dispatched by Manila to mend fences with Taipei after the Philippines deported 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China on Feb. 2 despite strong protests by Taiwanese officials.
Without offering the apology repeatedly demanded by Taiwan, Roxas said he came to Taiwan under the directive of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III to take care of this “very, very important matter.”
Photo: AFP
Yang welcomed Roxas, but did not respond to Roxas’ comments when he called Taiwan his -country’s “closest neighbor” as they shook hands.
Only the first three minutes of the meeting were open to the press and the two men continued their discussion behind closed doors once reporters were removed.
The friendship between Taiwan and the Philippines is being tested over the matter.
Manila’s decision to ignore Taipei’s demand prompted Taipei to implement a string of retaliatory measures against the Philippines, including tightening the screening of applications by Philippine citizens seeking to work in Taiwan, as well as the cancelation of visa-waiver privileges for certain categories of Filipinos.
Manila defended its decision by saying the 14 men did not have proof of citizenship at the time of their arrest and that the move was in the best interests of the Philippines.
Taiwan and the Philippines do not have diplomatic relations and Manila adheres to a “one China” policy.
Ahead of Roxas’ visit, Taipei said the relaxation of its retaliatory measures against Manila would be contingent on the message brought by the special envoy.
Asked yesterday about the likelihood of Manila apologizing for the deportations, Philippine presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said it would not happen.
“We believe in the process that we undertook,” he said, speaking on Philippine government radio about the deportation.
According to the authorities, the 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects were allegedly part of a crime ring that preyed on Chinese nationals living in China. It is said the syndicate swindled their victims out of NT$600 million (US$20.44 million).
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP
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