Philippines Eases Travel Restrictions on Government Officials Visiting Taiwan

Taiwan welcomed Manila’s decision, saying it will deepen bilateral ties between the two sides.

Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the 25th ASEAN-South Korea Summit during the 44th and 45th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in Vientiane, Laos, on Oct. 10, 2024. Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images

Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has eased decades-old travel restrictions, opening the door for some government officials from his country to visit Taiwan and allowing visits from Taiwanese officials to the Philippines.

Marcos’s order, known as Memorandum Circular No. 82, was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on April 15. The circular, which was made public on April 21, stated that the change was made to “further maximize opportunities for the development and expansion of the Philippines’ priority areas of investment.”