Taiwan's Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Chu-lan (
She said she had met and had discussions with Philippine President Joseph Estrada and members of the Philippine Cabinet.
Yeh said that during her five-day visit, she consistently stressed the fact that "Taiwan is a sovereign nation that should be enjoying participation in the international community."
When asked about the Spratly Islands, Yeh did not deny discussing the South China Sea dispute with Estrada, but neither did she reveal the contents of such discussions.
"I won't talk about that [dispute] because some issues just shouldn't be discussed," she said.
Yeh's official reason for the visit was an invitation issued by the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to give a speech regarding Taiwan's preparations to enter into an increasingly globalized economy.
Her visit was kept-low profile until yesterday because of pressure that China had been putting on the Philippines.
"China had been pressuring Philippine authorities and NGOs, but I did more than just deliver a speech, working instead on practical diplomatic matters," Yeh said.
She is the first Cabinet minister to visit the Philippines since since 1997.
Yeh brought with her a written greeting from President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to Estrada and said that her five-day visit was one of "conveying the friendliness of the new government to the Philippines, coinciding with the end of the yearlong aviation dispute."
The Philippines had accused Taiwan of poaching passengers and demanded that Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA Airways reduce their weekly quota of seats. When Taiwan refused, Manila unilaterally scrapped a 1996 air agreement with Taipei in October 1999 and both sides severed air links.
Flights were resumed in February but were cut again March 15, after each side accused the other of reneging on agreements. Direct flights resumed about two weeks ago.
Investment, tourism and the importation of Philippine labor to Taiwan were disrupted during the cessation of air links that soured diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Yeh said that during the PCCI conference, Estrada had guaranteed that the resumption of air links would be permanent.
The minister said she made it clear to Estrada and many other Philippine Cabinet members that Taiwan is a sovereignty country and is eager to join the international community.
"The Philippines expressed its understanding and is very willing to support Taiwan's participation in international affairs," Yeh said.
Strengthening tourism and investment projects in the Philippines were brought up in Yeh's discussion with Estrada and Philippine Cabinet members, the minister said.
Yeh went on to say that discussions also touched on the issue of Philippine laborers.
A ban on the importation of new Filipino workers for major public construction projects and manufacturing industries began on June 1.
"I told them that as long as the problems involving Philippine labor brokers can be solved, the dispute over the importation of laborers can be settled.
"I felt that their government understood this request as being reasonable," Yeh said.
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