Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos’ visit to Taiwan is an indication that Manila has heard Taiwan’s protests over the recent deportation of 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) said yesterday.
“In a way, it is an expression that Philippine is sorry about the incident, “ Lin said. “Otherwise, Ramos would not come.”
Ramos is scheduled to visit Taiwan March 3 to March 7. He will attend a golf tournament, visit Hsinchu Science Park and meet with the Hsinchu and Changhua county commissioners.
A Taiwanese businessmen based in the Philippines who is close to Ramos said the former president might deliver a goodwill statement prior to his departure for Taipei, expressing the hope that the deportation dispute will not affect the long-term friendship between the two countries.
Lin said the Philippines’ pledge to conduct an investigation and discipline any officials found to have mishandled the matter were also indications that Manila was sensitive to Taiwan’s anger over the deportation of its nationals to China.
“It is better for Taiwan to have more friends, given Taiwan’s weak status in the international community,” Lin said.
However, KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) did not agree.
Lo said that whether the Philippines disciplines its officials is an issue for Manila to decide, but that Taiwan’s sovereignty is an international issue.
If the Philippines does not apologize after insulting a country’s sovereign status to such a degree, then there is not much left for Taiwan to discuss, she contended.
“Taiwan has to remain tough on the Philippines. There is no room for compromise. The Philippines must apologize,” Lo said.
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