TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said the ministry seeks a closer partnership with the Philippines during a meeting with a visiting Council on Foreign Relations delegation on Friday.

Taiwan aims to link its Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor with the US-Japan-Philippines Luzon Economic Corridor to build more resilient supply chains, Lin said in a Facebook post. He said that the US possesses world-leading technological capabilities, while Taiwan has a complete manufacturing ecosystem, and the Philippines offers ample land and a strong labor force. By integrating these strengths, we can enhance the resilience of global democratic supply chains and promote regional peace and prosperity, the foreign minister added.

Lin also noted that the US and the Philippines recently announced plans to establish a 4,000-acre (16.2 million square meters) Economic Security Zone to strengthen supply chain security and industrial planning.

The foreign ministry said in August that connecting the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor with the Luzon Economic Corridor is part of Lin’s integrated diplomacy. “Taiwan is one of the top 10 trading partners of the Philippines, and the economies of the two countries are highly complementary,” the ministry said.

It added that resources from various agencies and departments have been combined to promote cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines in areas like ports, shipping, new energy, smart agriculture, and semiconductors. 

A Taiwanese trade delegation visited the Philippines in August to deepen Taiwan’s diplomatic presence and expand its strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian nation.