In response to a question at the Regional Outlook Forum 2025 held on January 9 by Singaporean think tank the Yusof Ishak Institute, Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo stated that the Philippines held a staunch position that the Taiwan Strait issue should be resolved through peaceful means. The Philippines is located close to Taiwan and hundreds of thousands of Filipinos live and work in Taiwan. Therefore, the Philippines has urged all parties concerned to maintain communications so as to prevent rising tensions.

Secretary Manalo’s public comment followed an earlier expression of concern in August 2024 regarding the importance of cross-strait peace and stability to the international community. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes and appreciates the Philippines’ support. It stresses that Taiwan hopes to further deepen substantive bilateral cooperation through integrated diplomacy.

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr., Secretary Manalo, and other high-level government officials of the Philippines have all recently made numerous public statements on the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. MOFA welcomes the continuing concrete actions and expressions of concern by the global community in working together with Taiwan to preserve the rules-based international order and protect democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. (E)