Taiwan seeks security cooperation with Philippines

by ana Marie PaMintuan Philstar.com

TAIPEI – With the Philippines and Taiwan facing the same threat, security cooperation may be possible between the two, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Jaushieh Wu said.

Wu said he could not go into details about possible security cooperation, but that “this is one area that we should think about.”

Another area, he said, is coast guard cooperation and disaster response.

Taiwan is optimistic of improved ties with the Philippines under President Marcos.

Wu told The STAR in an interview here Tuesday, June 27 that his government welcomed U.S. moves to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Philippines, such as setting up additional U.S. military installations under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

He brushed aside concerns that setting up the U.S. military facilities under EDCA, two of which are in the northern Philippines just across the sea from Taiwan, is a provocative act directed at China.

“What is causing provocation in this region is China’s expansionism,” Wu said.

“As far as I can see, there are prospects for better relations between Taiwan and the Philippines under the current President BBM,” Wu said. “Some of his public statements concerning Taiwan have been u PAGE 2

C-17 strategic transport aircraft operated by the United States military, which has nine military crew and one passenger onboard, landed at Naia around 8:08 a.m. from Guam and departed the airport 10 hours later at around 6:10 p.m. before heading to its original destination in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

“According to a source, the Manila International Airport Integrated Command and Control Center was not given any advisory on the arrival of aforesaid aircraft,” Marcos said in the resolution. Citing the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Marcos added the country’s award-winning advertising agencies. In August last year, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, however, said it’s about time to “evolve” and “move on” from the campaign. She thanked those who developed the tagline which she said earned merits and successes. The tourism chief said the new tagline now takes