On April 15, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Memorandum Circular No. 32 (MC 32), announcing the easing of Executive Order No. 313 (EO 313) issued in 1989 by then-President Corazon Aquino. EO 313 stipulated that Philippine government officials could not, without prior approval from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), visit Taiwan in an official capacity, receive visiting Taiwanese officials, or engage in any official activities related to Taiwan, reflecting the Philippines’ recognition of the Chinese Communist Party’s “One China Policy.”
Under the new memorandum, the travel restrictions will now be limited to only four positions: the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and the Secretary of National Defense.
Other Philippine government officials planning to visit Taiwan for economic, trade, or investment matters will no longer need prior approval from the DFA. However, they must use ordinary passports and must not use their official titles during their visit. These officials are required to inform the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) of their travel purpose before departure and maintain coordination with MECO during their stay. Upon returning, they must submit a report of their visit to both MECO and the DFA.
The memorandum also states that any agreements, memoranda of understanding, or similar documents signed with Taiwanese institutions or organizations must receive prior approval from the DFA and, when necessary, authorization from the Office of the President.
The memorandum notes that the move aims to further maximize the Philippines’ development and expansion opportunities in key investment areas.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, April 22, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20250422-6223765