RP says no to Taiwan FM's visit

RP says no to Taiwan FM's visit

PHILIPPINES: The Philippines will not allow a planned visit of a senior Taiwanese official in the country to meet with Filipino legislators, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said on Thursday.

Romulo said a reported planned visit of Taiwan Foreign Minister Chen Tang Shan in Manila later in the month would violate the Philippines' One-China policy.

"We have adopted and strictly adhered to the One-China policy," he said. "In fact, we have just recently celebrated our 50 years of bilateral relations with China."

The Taiwanese foreign minister planned to meet with Filipino legislators to discuss the possible drafting of Philippines- Taiwan Relations Act aimed at strengthening economic, labor and cultural ties between Taipei and Manila.

Taiwan is host to some 160,000 Filipino overseas workers, who are among the millions of Filipinos who have sought jobs in foreign countries due to the high unemployment rate in the country. -- DPA