The foreign ministry has urged the Philippines not to label Taiwan as part of China.
The Philippine government made an unexpected announcement Monday night, banning tourists from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Macau from entry. Philippine health authorities made the decision on the basis of the World Health Organization’s “one China” principle.
Because the announcement was made after several flights to the Philippines had already taken off, about 150 Taiwanese tourists were denied entry at airports. In total, 542 Taiwanese tourists have been straneded in the Philippines.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said on Tuesday that Taiwan will continue communicating with Manila. Ou said Taiwan is not a part of China, adding that the island’s confirmed infections of the coronavirus have been kept under control.
Ou said the government will offer necessary assistance to Taiwanese tourists stranded in the Philippines.
Taiwan and the Philippines do not have formal diplomatic ties.