TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will extend visa-free entry for Filipino travelers by another year, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said at a Philippine Independence Day event on Friday.

Calling the Philippines an important partner, Lin explained that June 12, 1898 marked its liberation from Spanish rule. “We not only share the core values ​​of freedom and democracy,” he said, “but also support each other and move forward side by side in the face of the challenge of totalitarian expansion.”

Lin praised the pair’s growing ties, citing Manila’s Memorandum No. 82, which eased restrictions on official exchanges and laid the groundwork for the “Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor,” per CNA. The initiative is expected to drive cooperation in agriculture, energy, smart technologies, and supply chain resilience.

The Philippines was the top source of Southeast Asian visitors to Taiwan in 2023, with 415,000 arrivals. Lin also acknowledged the contributions of 160,000 Filipino migrant workers in Taiwan, saying they play a vital role across sectors.

Lin said he hopes that under the principle of reciprocity, Taiwanese will also be able to travel to the Philippines visa-free.