Taiwan issues ‘red’ travel alert on Phl

MANILA, Philippines - Taiwan has issued a “red” travel alert on the Philippines and suspended economic exchanges as part of a second set of sanctions following the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman.

Premier Jiang Yi-huah announced the imposition of new sanctions Wednesday night after the Philippine government “failed to give a satisfactory response to Taipei’s four demands by the deadline of 6 p.m. today (Wednesday).”

The latest sanctions took effect at 6 p.m. on the same day, a statement from Taipei said. “This attitude demonstrates an utter lack of sincerity that the ROC (Republic of China) government found to be unacceptable.”

Taipei earlier rejected a message of “deep regret” and apology from President Aquino personally relayed by Manila Economic and Cultural Office chairman Amadeo Perez Jr.

Perez, along with MECO managing director Antonio Basilio and director Manuel Dimaculangan, returned from Taiwan yesterday empty handed.

Jiang said Manila’s calling Hong Shi-cheng’s death simply as an “unfortunate and unintended loss of life” is completely unacceptable.

“The Guang Da Xing No. 28 fishing boat was riddled with bullet holes. We cannot accept that this was an inadvertent, unintentional act,” Jiang said.

“While the Philippine government has apologized for the death of Hong Shi-cheng, it has once again claimed his killing was unintentional,” he said.

“Moreover, the Philippine government’s handling of this entire affair has been sloppy, and it has persistently evaded the important issues and dwelled on the trivial.”

Jiang said that Taiwan had already stopped processing Filipino laborers’ applications to work in Taiwan and that it had already recalled its Philippine representative Raymond L.S. Wang.

The other sanctions include the suspension of agricultural and fishery cooperation with the Philippines as well as bilateral exchange and cooperation in scientific and technological research projects.

Also held in abeyance are negotiations on aviation rights as well as Filipinos’ use of the Advance Online Registration System for visitors from five Southeast Asian countries. Taiwan’s military maneuver near Philippine waters is also part of the sanctions.

Food expo shunned

As tensions simmer, 16 Taiwan-based firms have pulled out of a government-organized food trade show in Manila.

Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said they were belatedly informed by the Taiwanese of their decision to pull out of the 9th International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines at the SMX in Pasay City.

“We were advised (of the pullout) but it was too late to take out the booth,” Domingo told reporters.

Volunteers left to man the Taiwan-based companies’ booths said the exhibitors were ordered to pull out of the show by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA). TAITRA’s task is to promote Taiwan’s external trade.

Aside from TAITRA, the other exhibitors are Royal Family Food Co. Ltd., Diing Yuh Foods Co. Ltd., Golden Howard Foods Trading Co. Ltd., Haw-Di Foods Co. Ltd., JNY Co. Ltd., Jia Tien Industrial Co. Ltd., New Cheng Corp., Shih-Chuan Excellence Food Co. Ltd., Speed Delivery Co. Ltd., Sunnano Biotech Inc., Tai Ping Yang Food Factory; Taiwan Confectionery, Biscuit and Floury Food Industry Association; Taiwan Fructose Co. Ltd., Taiwan Star Industrial Inc., and Totempak Solutions Co. Ltd.

Despite the development, Domingo said the Philippines still considers Taiwan as an important trading partner.

“We cannot blame them. We continue to see them as good trading partners,” he said.

He also said that trade relations between the Philippines and Taiwan are expected to continue despite the diplomatic row.

“Good relations cannot be thrown just like that,” he added.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters the exhibitors are welcome to come back to the trade show in case they change their mind.

“We are confident the issues can be resolved,” he added.

The 9th IFEX, which opened yesterday and runs until May 19, is organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service of the Department of Agriculture.

The IFEX, first held in 2004, is a premier sourcing hub for quality ethnic Asian food, ingredients and raw materials.

Among the firms sourcing products from the IFEX are Harrods of the United Kingdom and Sysco of the United States.

Tourism missions suspended

And just as Taiwan’s food firms withdrew from IFEX, the Philippine government announced the suspension of all tourism missions to Taiwan.

“As with any traditional markets, there are several activities lined up for this year. All marketing activities have been suspended by DOT for now,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez told The STAR in a text message yesterday.

He also said the DOT is monitoring the red alert travel status issued by Taipei on the Philippines.

Jimenez said he is optimistic that the diplomatic row will not have much impact on the country’s tourism industry.

“We expect a slowdown but hope for better,” he said, when asked if the situation could be considered “worrisome.” – With Donnabelle Gatdula, Mayen Jaymalin