Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Taiwan should “remember who its friends are,” says Manila’s former envoy to UN

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By Raïssa Robles

I would like to share with you guys my articles on the Taiwan-Philippine dispute published by South China Morning Post. This one appeared today:

Former envoy Lauro Baja tells Taiwan to ‘remember who its friends are’

Raissa Robles in Manila

Friday, 17 May 2013

A former top Philippines diplomat has urged Taiwan to “remember who its friends are”, in comments that appear to suggest Taiwan is ungrateful for Manila’s longstanding support for its political autonomy.

“Taiwan should remember we were the first ones to have these informal relations with them and we have substantial relations with them in terms of trade,” said Lauro Baja, the former Philippines ambassador to the United Nations.

Baja said he decided to speak out as a citizen because of what he perceived was Taiwan’s “overreaction” to the death of one of its fishermen on May 9 when a Philippines coastguard vessel fired at a Taiwanese fishing boat that Manila said was inside Philippine territory.

Baja said that, contrary to Taipei’s claims that the incident occurred in disputed territory, Taiwan had long recognised the area as a part of Philippine waters.

“If you recall, during the time of [President] Cory Aquino, there was some sort of corridor established for Taiwanese fishermen” to pass through that area, he said. But Baja, once foreign affairs undersecretary for policy, did not know the status of that agreement because “it came from Malacanang Palace and did not pass through the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs]”.

“With their entity being a province of China, giving sanctions and refusing to receive the representative of the president, what is that? Sometimes I feel we have these things coming to us because of our very timid diplomacy,” Baja said.

Rex Robles, a retired Philippine Navy commodore and security consultant, also pointed to the corridor agreement as proof that Taiwan recognises Philippine sovereignty over that area.

“I think everyone has forgotten about the safety corridor which Cory Aquino signed during her term. It allowed Taiwanese fishermen to pass through Philippine waters on their way to the Pacific Ocean,” he said.

Robles said if Taiwan believed the area was theirs, in the first place, “why will they sign that MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]?”

To read the rest please click on this link.

Here is my previous piece, co-bylined with Minnie Chan. Below is an excerpt where I interviewed Herman Kraft of the University of the Philippines:

US treading carefully as row between Taipei and Manila escalates

Washington keen to avoid trouble between its allies as it steps up deployment in Asia-Pacific

(excerpt)

A Filipino security expert also said the US would be careful not to anger its two allies.

Herman Kraft, executive director of the Manila-based Institute for Strategic and Development Studies said: “As far as the US is concerned, they would rather not be playing any significant role or saying anything that might put them in an awkward position with either of the two players, which are allies.”

To read the rest, please click on this link.

Here is an excerpt from today’s South China Morning Post editorial entitled:

An apology by the Philippines is only the first step

Complicated disputes can require pragmatic solutions. This has been forgotten by the Philippines in the fallout from the killing by its coastguard of a Taiwanese fisherman. Much is at stake economically, so skirting muddied waters is an inadequate response. Manila has to show remorse.

Diplomatically, that is not easy for the Philippines, which recognises Beijing, not Taipei. So a direct apology from the highest level of government would seemingly not be in keeping with protocol. That lack of recognition also makes resolving territorial waters disputes troubling; the killing was in an area both claim as being in their 200 nautical-mile off-shore exclusive economic zones. With Beijing also claiming the sea, a deal like that between Taiwan and Japan to share fishing resources is challenging.

Politics also has to be negotiated. Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s approval rating has fallen to just 14 per cent and the row offers a chance for a turnaround. Taipei has so far recalled its envoy to Manila, frozen applications for work permits, halted economic exchanges and staged navy drills in which the Philippines is the perceived enemy.

****

Whether the fishing boat rammed the coastguard vessel as the Philippines claims does not justify so deadly a response…

To read the rest, please click on this link.

Finally, SCMP’s Taipei correspondent Lawrence Chung tries to quantify the costs of the dispute.

Taiwan curbs on the Philippines ‘to cost HK$2.3b’

Taiwan will not be left untouched if it punishes the Philippines for the death of a fisherman killed by its coastguard, an economist warns

In peso terms, the dispute could cost the Philippines P12.35 billion. But Chung wrote that according to a Taiwanese economist:

“Given there are some 10 million Filipino workers overseas, Taiwan is not among the major destinations for Filipino workers,” said senior researcher Wu Hui-lin from the Chung Hua Institution for Economic Research in Taipei. He cautioned that if Taipei sought to raise the stakes by slapping trade sanctions on Manila, it might not be in Taiwan’s favour, given it enjoyed a US$6.77 billion trade surplus with the Philippines last year.

To read the rest, please click on this link.

 

Comments

  1. 1. Here is a link i got from Taiwanese embassy (US). It contains the photos of the ship taken by taiwanese investigators along with the letter of Antonio Baisilio. Just posting this since Filipino journalist, CPMers and Raissa might find it useful.

    http://www.taiwanembassy.org/public/Data/35172352571.pdf

    Note that in the letter of basilio it will prove that what he is saying is correct that they invited the Taiwanese investigators but it also states that in number 3 last part: “if so requested, under the provisions of the agreement to facilitate mutual legal assistance we signed last month.”

    This debunked the statements of Chen Wen-chi (senior justice ministry official) calling their counterparts “capricious and dishonest” when they went back to Taiwan.

    Ang problema lang is when they went back to Taiwan the 17 investigators never told their media and the Taiwanese people that they failed or never made appointment with their Filipino counterparts and that’s why De Lima, Lacierda and Valte appeared clueless when asked if they will entertain the taiwanese investigators.

    Furthermore here is her complete statement:
    “The Philippine authorities agreed to hold a joint probe into the shooting case, but their attitude became capricious and dishonest after we arrived in Manila,” Chen said at a Taoyuan International Airport.

    2. Since Taiwan is still trying to pull a black propaganda media like xinhua news agency, and if anyone is interested to read a totally biased report to gain international support here is a link from their embassy:

    http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/lp.asp?CtNode=2300&CtUnit=48&BaseDSD=7&mp=12

    http://www.taiwanembassy.org/US/ct.asp?xItem=380686&ctNode=2300&mp=12

    Try to read each press releases they already have a conclusion to the case but in reality President Ma is still begging PH for a joint investigation.

    • I’ve seen pictures of two bullets recovered from the vessel. one was bloody, the other fragmented ID-ing could be difficult. they reckoned the blood on the bullet came from the dead fisherman even though it might not have been tested for human DNA, and might even be fish blood. also pictured were the 59 bullet holes. labelling was sloppy, did not specify whither the holes were entry or exit holes. since our coast guard was firing from outside the vessel, maybe aft or port, entry holes from the outside should be concave and going in. contradict me if you like, but some of the bullet holes on deck (floor) I found suspicious like they were fired from inside the vessel. I understand though that sea was choppy at the time and vessel could bob up and down, sometime side to side too.

      anyhow, many taiwanese are not really against pinoys working there, though there might have been insulated one or two case of hostility.

  3. UNCLOS

    Article 94 – duties of flag state

    3 ( c) the use of signals, the maintenance of communications and preventions of collisions
    4 (c) that the masters, officers, and to the extent appropriate, the crew are fully conversant with and required to observe the applicable international regulations concerning the safety of life at sea, preventions of collisions
    7 Each state shall cause an inquiry involving a ship flying its flag and causing loss of life or serious injury to nationals of another state or serious damage to ship of another state

    Article 146 – protection of human life
    Necessary measures shall be taken to ensure effective protection of human life

    The UNITED NATIONS CHARTER

    Article 51 – Every state has an inherent right to defend itself by employing military means if it has been subjected to an armed attack
    ——————-

    The PCG had observed the international regulations to protect human life by at first firing warning shots at the Chinese fishermen to surrender, thus a way of communicating with the Chinese that the PCG wants to deal with the situations on hand peacefully. However, when one of the fishermen tried to ram the PCG vessel which is tantamount to an armed attack (the fisherman using the boat as his weapon of arms), the PCG officer ( as a matter of life and death on their part) had no choice but to shoot at the machine of the chinese boat to stop it from ramming their vessel. It is self – defense indeed, wherein the defendant did honestly and instinctively thought was necessary then.

    On the other hand, did that fisherman, who was accidentally shot, try to observed the international regulations of safety of life in the sea. Apparently he didn’t. By trying to ram the PCG vessel, he didn’t give a damn if he killed the PCG but instead lost his life. Taiwan should BEAR A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY for the cause of the fisherman’s death by not ensuring her fishermen are well acquainted with the rules of the UNCLOS specifically articles 94 and 146.

    The UNCLOS articles are saying concerned states should not use force in dealing with conflicts to prevent loss of life but they don’t say about self- defense which is an inherent right to defend itself from attack.

      • Article 94 of UNCLOS section 7 doesn’t say a joint investigation is allowable / permittable which I believe is to preserve / respect the sanctity of a state’s sovereignty. I admire DOJ de Lima on standing on her ground and manages to ward off Taiwan’s bullying and harassment to do so.

        • the taiwanese tried to ram their way in. sorry no can do, de lima said return to sender, chop, chop.

        • it was not just the fishing vessel that tried to ram its way in. the taiwanese delegation also tried ramming their way in, but got repulsed.

  4. Now that your favorite president is again noynoying and that Taiwan stops visa processing for workers in that place, your favorite president accordingly (lacierda), looks for another market for Filipino workers.

    Why would your president not to create jobs in his country.

    • he he he he politiko ka ba? malayo ba botohan ng Presedente, tapos na para Senador he he he o isa kang bayaran or anti-Pres Noy.

      Kung saan ka man lupalop nanduon, tumingin ka sa langit, pag nakita mo mga bituin or yun buwan sa gabi at sa araw ay ang liwanag ng araw, may hangin at dagat pa, pasalamat ka na lang, dahil di pa Judgment day he he he, dahil kung TAKDANG ORAS na ay dumating, wala kang matatakbuhan he he he

  5. By Federico Pascual, Philstar, May 19, 2013.

    “When communist hordes overran China in 1949 in the concluding chapter of a civil war, the Philippines gave aid and sanctuary to Kuomintang Chinese fleeing the mainland on way to Taiwan. Many of them settled in Manila and flourished in business.

    “Now they are treating us like rubbish just because one of them was killed by stray bullets when their boat intruded into Philippine waters last Wednesday and tried to ram a Coast Guard craft that accosted it.

    “The President of the Philippines humbled himself and apologized for the unfortunate death of one of the Taiwanese intruders – but this was rejected by Taipei as “insincere.”

    “Next time we feel like apologizing to a neighbor, especially if he is a renegade Chinese, we should find out first if the apology would be accepted.”

    By Babes Romualdez, Philstar, May 19, 2013.

    ” Now that President Noy has been given a “new mandate” on account of the administration coalition’s domination in the recently concluded senatorial elections, perhaps the new Senate should revisit our foreign policy and issue a resolution reiterating the Philippines’ foreign policy that recognizes only “one China,” and that we will continue to strengthen bilateral relations with duly recognized nations that have a major bearing in our political, trade and cultural relations.

    ” It’s interesting to note how Taiwan’s “provincial” leaders reacted when the administration indicated that it will deal with the Balintang Channel issue based on our “one China policy.” There is also very strong perception that Taiwan is leveraging on the shooting incident involving Taiwanese suspected to be poachers to push for maritime concessions in areas that are considered part of our exclusive economic zone. If any agreement is drawn at all, it should be between two sovereign countries – the PRC and the Philippines. If Taiwanese officials insist, then they should make a pact with our nearest province to Taiwan like Ilocos Norte.

    ” We commiserate and feel for our overseas Filipino workers being harassed by the local Chinese in Taiwan, with reports that our OFWs are being called insulting names like “dogs” and refused entry in supermarkets and other commercial establishments. We should evacuate them immediately. Surely DOLE, POEA and OWWA can step up efforts to look for other countries where our workers will be more than welcome because of their experience and good work ethics. Certainly, the Taiwanese will feel the void since Filipinos are the best workers in the world especially in the electronics manufacturing sector – one of Taiwan’s major industries. Lets not allow a “provincial governor” from Taiwan to push us around.”

    • I agree with Babe Romualdez that officially, PH recognizes a one-china policy, as did the rest of the world, and as such, taiwan is regarded as a renegade province of china. MA Ying-Jeou is literally not the president of taiwan but only a provincial governor.

      In not too distant future, when china overcomes US as the world’s biggest economy, it’s not far-fetched that the latter will sign a non-aggression pact and expanded trade relations with the once-paper tiger, influenced greatly to ensure the US own economic survival.

      A re shifting of our foreign and economic relation policies giving more weight on our continued economic development, is believed in order….

  6. 1. After the incident in the Balintang Channel. A fisherman from taiwan was detained in Japan.
    http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/05/15/2003562341

    The weird thing about this incident and news article is that they do not prejudge and accuse Japans Coast Guard of extortion unlike how Taiwanese fisherman accused our coastguard (Read my comment #18.)

    2. And yes the most pathetic way to gain public attention and international support is when somebody used the deceased for their own personal goal/agenda.

    “I think you can be the judge of whether they value the importance of life.”

    “the Philippines probably does not attach much importance to human life,” noting that more than 50 people died in the just completed elections. –Vice President Wu Den-yih

    Link: http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=2224449

    They brag of International support yet for us Fil-Ams who religously watch & reads news can easily deduced why some republican lawmakers support Taiwan (Read my comment #2).

    Lastly i posted this links to show the difference between the two governments. One is reactive and can be easily flustered due to pressure while the other is calm and stood his ground even to faced with pressure to alleged allies.

    ~Proud to be Pnoy~

  7. basta ako nayayabangan sa arrive ng mga probinsyanong iyan.
    hingin muna nila ang kalayaan nila sa mainland bago sila mag-rumpi.
    tama lang na isaalang-alang nila ang pag-kakaibigan natin dahil isa lang tayo sa kokonti nilang masugid na supporter. tapos gagay-anin nila tayo.
    walang gay-unan.
    kahit kaming mga pinoy ay pagay-an gay-an laang, marunong naman kaming gumalang.
    hindi ba’t ung hinuhuli nilang galunggong sa karagatan natin sa Ivatan ay sa atin din nila i

  8. 台灣官員：請一個明智的思維！避免情緒正在進行推理出什麼是更好的辦法，加深我們之間的關係。

    Taiwan Officials: Please refrain from being emotionally involved in thinking reasonably so as not to aggravate our present relationship.

  9. To Taiwan Officials, here is our Pilipino people’s suggestion:

    台灣官員：請一個明智的思維！避免情緒正在進行推理出什麼是更好的辦法，加深我們之間的關係。

    [ think reasonably so as not to aggravate our relationship with the Philippines ]

  10. Re this incident with a Taiwanese fisherman who was killed by our Coast guard personnel, I glimpsed from Ellen Tordesillas’ today article and at the last sentence [ I have read this before ] Atty. Harry Roque per news reports, states –

    “This is important because as lawyer Harry Roque said, UNCLOS prohibits the use of unnecessary use of force in dealing with illegal fishermen.” In fact,” he said, “ the UNCLOS provides that fishermen caught illegally fishing in a state’s exclusive economic zone should not even be detained or charged criminally The only leeway granted to a party state is to apprehend the vessel which, in turn, must be immediately released upon posting of bond.”

    “Post of bond” but “not even to be detained or charged criminally” – fishing boats of not our own in our territorial waters. Why or what is the reason for a bond unless detention or charging criminally is a predicate action of the injured State/party?

    How does one ‘execute’ or forfeit a ‘bond’ [ confiscating it ultimately ] unless there is detention or a case filed against the erring or violating party? Is there a provision stated in UNCLOS situation? What is that specific provision saying?

    Anybody like to elucidate? …Atty. Harry Roque maybe?

    • Why or what is the reason for a bond unless detention or charging criminally is a predicate action of the injured State/party?

      Your quoted last sentence provides the answer:

      “The only leeway granted to a party state is to apprehend the vessel ….”

      It is the vessel that is detained, not the individual.

      Below is the cited provision (Article 73)

      Enforcement of laws and regulations of the coastal State

      1. The coastal State may, in the exercise of its sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage the living resources in the exclusive economic zone, take such measures, including boarding, inspection, arrest and judicial proceedings, as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations adopted by it in conformity with this Convention.

      2. Arrested vessels and their crews shall be promptly released upon the posting of reasonable bond or other security.

      3. Coastal State penalties for violations of fisheries laws and regulations in the exclusive economic zone may not include imprisonment, in the absence of agreements to the contrary by the States concerned, or any other form of corporal punishment.

      4. In cases of arrest or detention of foreign vessels the coastal State shall promptly notify the flag State, through appropriate channels, of the action taken and of any penalties subsequently imposed.

      un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm (lagyan ng tatlong w sa harap)

      • Note section 2 of Article 73 above. Both the vessel and the individual may be arrested.

        Note section 3 as well. Bawal ang kulong; fine lang, if ever. Lalong bawal ang bumaril, especially if the gunfire is a hail of bullets (there are reports that the vessel sustained 59 bullet holes or so.

        Self defense daw sabi ng Coast Guard. Self-defense refers to defense of your person. Assuming that the attempted ramming could, or may have resulted in the deaths of the Coast Guard personnel, is the hail of bullets reasonable force to repel the attack, under the Revised Penal Code? I doubt that Professor Jose Espinosa would side with the Coast Guard on this, as “reasonable force” to repel the attack.

        • Mmmm. Invoking my dad.

          Yes, he wouldn’t.

          Something fishy that needs further investigation.

        • Does these soldier on the front line passed the psychological test??? One of them could be suffering from insanity, especially if they have been orientated not to shoot anyone fromother country!!! Perhaps, these soldiers did not have these teaching of this “LAWS NOT TO SHOOT”. Well, something is not right, in military, it is command responsibility, what ever the errors of the private, the general will be in hot seat….

        • the story has changed, last time I heard there were 45 bullets holes, now it’s 59. does the one doing the counting knows how to count, or are they going to add more bullet holes to worsen the situation? I hope they have saved all the slugs so they can be compared to our guns, see if they match straitions.

        • we need to impound the fishing vessel. it must be proven that all the bullets came from us, fired from a certain angle. only our coast guard personnel knew what angle that is in relation to the vessel. the angle had better be consistant with distance and location, or someone is lying.

        • the revised penal code did not specify how many rounds of bullet fired makes a reasonable force, and under what condition a force is considered reasonable. the intent was to cripple the vessel, not kill a person, or sink the vessel.

    • from forensic view, I think, it’s weird that no bullet casing was found of the supposedly 45 bullets holes in the taiwanese fishing vessel in question. there should be few on the deck, few more lodged in the hull, yet none was found. the dead fisherman na tinamaan daw ng bala, there was no bullet slug on him too. this all sound sus to me. weapons were fired, but where are the bullet casings or slugs that directly linked out coast guard to tlhe crime? I started to doubt that majority if not some of those 45 bullets holes might have been added after the fact, when the fishing vessel reached port in taiwan. someone agrabyado might have done it.

      • at the time, there were 4 taiwanese fishing vessels detected in the area to one of our coast guard present. boarding the offending fishing vessel and towing it to our port to sampa kaso against it for fishing illegally, would not have been good idea. since the taiwanese outnumbered us and could easily surround us, I can see why there were being aggro and tried ramming our ship, but got fired instead.

      • Difference in leadership:
        One thing is for sure though President Ma prejudged the incident by saying “cold blooded-murderer” “barbarics” etc. Even the head of the investigating team named Chen Wen-chi issued words like “murder” and “intent to kill”.

        Which leaves the question what good will a joint investigation do if their authorities already concluded and prejudge the case? In Fact they even punished not only the perpetrators but the whole country through punitive sanctions.

        Compare it to how our president reacts to similar cases: Atimonan or the Jamalul Kiram/Sabah Incident. This shows that Pnoy have a grasp and finesse to handle pressure. Often times he witholds his opinion to himself + cabinet until the investigation is finished.

        Before i forgot Ma is begging now for manila to have a joint investigation:
        http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/05/19/2003562623

        After De Lima stood her ground and tells them politely that they should have made appointments through proper channels (TECO-MECO). Biglang bumaba sa lupa si Ma at nawala yung mga rhetorics :)

        • apparently taiwan’s president ma cannot control the taiwanese and is riding high on their emotion. she cannot tell her people that the pinoys over there have nothing to do with the incident at sea. many of them cannot even swim, let alone point on the map the location where the incident happened. lucky we have a president who is not fond of retaliating and ordered our country men to do the same to the taiwanese already here in our country and also hit them with baseball bats.

        • who’s to tell? true, there was incident at sea, but the dead fisherman might not have been the real deal. if he was indeed hit at sea and in danger of losing his mortal life, how come they did not radio for medical aid, which our medic or other ships in the vicinity could have given? there could have been funny business here, switching the one who is pretending to be dead with a dead body already in the morgue, the real fisherman now laying low and waiting for his part of the loot. there are many scammers in taiwan. this incident at sea might be too good to pass and have to be milked for all its worth.

        • That delegation arrogantly marching in and then pompously marching out, spurned and complaining about Philippine failure to cooperate, reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, with mad hatters and loud queens running about like lunatics. I have not seen such undiplomatic arrogance since, well, North Korea did it’s wild-eyed nuclear rant a few weeks ago. I suggest the Taiwanese inspect their mushrooms more carefully. Extract the hallucinogens.

        • natural reactions from relatives of the slain fisherman and the other nationalist country men, no one can blame them, if both uses each other, one for vendication and the other for political survival, i can see the relationship to end with the crisis…

  12. Tsk tsk. Ang tagal-tagal naging diplomat ni Baja eh hanggang ngayon hindi pa niya alam ang first rule ng foreign policy. ALL foreign or external policy is driven by domestic or internal pressures. Now a little research on the part of Baja would have revealed that the Taiwanese president is very unpopular. He is on his last term but he still wants to continue to head his political party KMT even after he steps down from the presidency. That’s the context of his hysterical reaction to the shooting of a Taiwanese who was fishing illegally in Philippine waters. Now how many times throughout history have we seen unpopular leaders deflect the wrath of their people from themselves to some external enemy? How often have we seen unpopular leaders resort to jingoism to rally their people behind them?

    The problem with Baja’s approach is he is making an argument within the framework set by the Taiwanese president as if the Taiwanese president did not know that his fisherman was fishing illegally and the coast guard simply did what it was supposed to do, keep poachers out. The approach of the administration is correct. We stay in our frame – the fisherman had no business fishing there and it’s unfortunate that in the course of safeguarding our borders, the fisherman was killed. There is nothing we can do to appease the Taiwanese president because he is not after justice, he is after ratings and so pipigain niya yun isyu hanggang nakakatulong sa ratings niya. Pagwala ng maipipiga pa, he will move on to other gimmicks he hopes will raise his ratings and allow him to stay on as head of KMT and thus maintain political influence even after his term of office.

    • his ambition will be deminished by his political opponents, thats factual, all politics around the world has their own political opposition…

  13. Another alleged fisherman from taiwan trying to stir nationalism and patriotism:
    http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/05/18/2003562567/1

    Sadly the alleged fisherman unwittingly admitted to evading our justice system, bribery and poaching. Magaling talaga silang tumakas sa batas and they are proud about it.

    Ano ba naman yung 17 na taiwanese investigators na pumunta sa PH without making a appointment to DOJ or going to proper channels to signal their intent and arrival. Basta basta na lang pumunta sa pinas tapos ngayon galit sila when they were denied by Sec. De Lima.

    Buti na lang hindi natin pinaramdam sa kanila yung Taiwanese kind of hospitality na naramdaman ni Perez when he was sent to taiwan.

    Hindi pa nga natatapos yung investigation nitong mga taiwanese may prejudice na agad when they say “intent to kill” tapos yung presidente nila “cold blooded-murderer”, masyadong unprofessional.

    Pwede din nating sabihin na may verdict and punishment na, through sanctions na inutos ng presidente nila at hindi pagbebenta ng human necessities sa market. Ano pang use nung investigation kung may parusa na agad na hinatol sa Pilipinas at sa mga pinoy OFW?

    • those taiwanese representatives are under Ma’s political umbrella he he he their end is near. When new leaders arise in Taiwan, these mess will linger through the years….

  14. “Taiwan’s One Sanction Against The Philippines That Really Hurts”

    This is the freeze in hiring of Filipino workers. And it hurts both sides.

    Let us assume that all Filipino workers in Taiwan went home. On our side it means that Philippines would lose about .003% or USD170 thousands of OFW remittances from Taiwan in a year based on 2012 data wherein we had a total of USD21 billions in OFW remittances. Insofar as OFW remittance from Taiwan is concerned, it would hardly make a dent on our economy.

    Of course it would entail a lot of problems for the OFWs’ family. But the Philippine government has identified alternative markets such as Korea, Middle East, Malaysia and others that have job openings in their manufacturing sector. And of the 85 thousands OFWs in Taiwan, 72% are in the manufacturing sector or factories.

    Now, let us look at Taiwan’s side of the equation. According to Ralph Jennings’ article in Forbes Asia, it would mean “a loss of up to 1,000 English-speaking degree holders in white-collar IT jobs and many more thousands of manual workers in high-tech factories.”

    Jennings also said that “Migrants from other Southeast Asian countries can easily keep working in home care, construction and fishing, all jobs that Taiwanese don’t want. But high-tech firms prefer Filipinos for their degrees, work experience and English reading ability, key for example to reading equipment labels. They earn a minimum wage equal to $638 per month, far below what locals would get.”

    “High-tech, particularly contract manufacturing of consumer electronics, is incidentally Taiwan’s top source of exports. “I would think (the labor freeze) would have an impact on the IT industry,” says Peter O’Neill, coordinator for services to migrants in the Catholic diocese of Taiwan’s Hsinchu county, a high-tech hotspot.”

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2013/05/15/taiwans-one-sanction-against-the-philippines-that-really-hurts/

    And it is not hard to comprehend thatTaiwan will fail to deliver on its export commitments in global trade of high-tech goods.

  15. Taiwan is still an immature violent society. The world has seen how they settle debates in their parliament..through fisticuffs. If they were the size of China’s economic power, they would be worse than China.