The foreign ministry says it “worked hard” to get a Taiwanese representative invited to the inauguration of the new Philippine president. But ministry officials say Manila denied the request “based on the overall situation.”
Neither Taiwan nor the Philippines has made it clear what situation that refers to.
The Philippines’ new president, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was sworn into office on Thursday without any Taiwanese presence at the ceremony.
Taiwan last attended a Philippine presidential inauguration in 2010. That year, one of Taiwan’s former health ministers was invited in a personal capacity to watch Benigno Aquino III take his oath of office.
Despite not receiving an invitation this year, Taiwan’s foreign ministry remains upbeat about ties with Manila. It says trade between the two countries was worth more than US$9 billion last year, and that Taiwan will keep working with the Philippines to strengthen ties based on “pragmatism, reciprocity and mutual benefit.”