AMID continued tension in the Taiwan Strait, the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it has not received any request for repatriation from any of the estimated 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Taiwan.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo Jose de Vega also said contingency measures are in place for the Filipinos in Taiwan in case the tension in the area spirals into a shooting war.
“As far as Filipinos in Taiwan are concerned, wala pa kaming natatanggap na request na gustong umuwi o nababahala. So far, nobody is asking for repatriation to go home,” De Vega told the “Laging Handa” public briefing.
“We can assure everyone that contingency plans are ready in all places where Filipinos are located, including in Taiwan,” De Vega added.
De Vega said President Marcos Jr. also instructed the DFA to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos not only in Taiwan but in other countries as well.
The DFA issued a statement giving the same assurance.
“We assure the public that contingency plans are in place in all places where there are high numbers of overseas Filipino workers,” the DFA said as it stressed that the Philippines will “be friend to all and will deal with foreign nations based on mutual respect.”
“The DFA is committed to the promotion of the welfare and security of all overseas Filipinos, including migrant workers,” it added.
The issue on the safety and welfare of Filipinos in Taiwan came amid the controversy generated by the recent remarks of Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian who said that if the Philippines cares for the Filipino workers in Taiwan, it should oppose the latter’s drive for independence rather than giving the United States access to additional military facilities under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
That remark prompted an outcry from various sectors, with lawmakers calling for Huang to be sent home for breaching diplomatic protocols.
The Chinese Embassy on Monday night said Huang was “misquoted” and his remarks were “misinterpreted” or “taken out of context” although it did not explain how.
De Vega said the Manila Economic Cultural Office (MECO), the country’s de facto embassy in Taipei, are in touch with leaders of the Filipino community in Taiwan to explain to them the contingency measures, although he said the DFA is confident, the tension will not worsen to a shooting war or even a nuclear exchange.
“Aside from this, local laws also mandates that employers have contingency plans for their employees,” he said.
On Monday, MECO Chairperson Silvestre Bello III said there is no cause for alarm amid increased tension in the Taiwan Strait as the situation there is “normal.”
Bello said even Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor is coordinating with its Philippine counterpart for the hiring of more Filipino teachers, and even farmers and fishermen.
‘VEILED THREAT’
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela) said Malacañang should recommend the Huang’s recall as envoy for crossing the line.
“Chinese Ambassador Huang is sending a veiled threat to our OFWs in Taiwan to pressure the Philippines to abide by the ‘One China’ principle. He clearly crossed the line, and Malacañang should recommend that he must be immediately recalled,” she said.
“Ambassador Huang could have an entire day opposing Taiwan’s independence. But to tell Manila to ‘unequivocally oppose’ such assertion of independence and dangle the fate of our OFWs — that is simply unacceptable.”
Brosas also said while Filipinos must oppose the designation of new EDCA sites, it does not mean Manila should tolerate Beijing’s aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea.
“From the building of artificial islands in the contested waters to the harassment of our fishermen and laser-tagging of our Coast Guard, China has done so much to cause unrest and concern in the peace and security in the West Philippine Sea. It has no ascendancy to lecture us on ensuring regional stability and de-escalating the tension in the contested territories,” she said. — With Wendell Vigilia
