Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/13
By: Emerson Lim

Taipei, Aug. 13 (CNA) Taiwan has no plans to adjust its visa-free treatment for Philippine nationals at present, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday, following reports that several Filipino workers disguised as tourists were caught trying to slip into the United Arab Emirates via Taipei.

MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) made the remark at a press conference Tuesday, noting that the final destination of the Filipino nationals in the case was not Taiwan.

However, Ou said, her ministry is conducting an ongoing review of the effects of visa-free treatment for the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar, based on the principal of reciprocity, as well as the numbers and types of offenses committed by citizens from these countries in Taiwan.

As part of its New Southbound policy, Taiwan has since 2016 allowed travelers from the Philippines, Thailand and Brunei 14-day visa-free privileges, while nationals from Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are given various conditional visa-free treatment.    [FULL  STORY]