‘Is China behind Manila’s move?’

HE PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB), and Airasia Philippines have cancelled all flights to and from Taiwan after Manila imposed a temporary ban due to outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus. Manila first issued a Civil Aeronautics Board by the ban should travel ban February 2 on all (CAB) and the Bureau of Taipei retaliates against tourists from China and its Immigration (BI) on February the Philippines. Special Administrative Regions 10. The One-china Policy - Hong Kong and Macao “The Republic of China can be traced back to –to prevent the spread (Taiwan) is a sovereign 1949 and the end of the of the disease, and included and independent state. Chinese civil war after Taiwan a week later. Taiwan issues its own passport the defeated Nationalists,

There were reports and visas and has exclusive also known as the that Beijing allegedly pressured jurisdiction over Kuomintang, retreated to Manila to strongly its people and territory. In Taiwan and made it their abide by the “One-china fact, Taiwan is not, nor has seat of government while Policy” and include Taiwan it ever been, part of the the victorious Communists in the expanded travel ban. PRC. Taiwan has taken all began ruling the Beijing has strongly maintained measures needed to contain mainland as the People’s that Taiwan is part the spread of the 2019 Republic of China. of China. Novel Coronavirus (2019ncov Since then China has

The Civil Aeronautics ),” it said. threatened to use force if Board (CAB) said the “It is a factual error for Taiwan ever formally declares imposition of the travel the World Health Organization independence. ban was due to increasing (WHO) to regard Taiwan Former Senator Francis concern about the spread as a part of PRC (Peoples Escudero, now Sorsogon of the virus and because Republic of China). governor, also questioned many people did not want The Philippines should not Manila’s travel to travel, local carriers be misled by WHO’S wrong ban. were prompted to cancel information on Taiwan. No “Why was Taiwan included flights to and from China, other countries in Asia, except in the travel ban? Hong Kong and Macao, the Philippines, have It is clearly separate and Taiwan included. issued travel ban on Taiwan. distinct from mainland

Both PAL and CEB We urge the Philippine China and is similarly situated are offering Manila-taipei-manila government to immediately in relation to other routes, while correct its decision countries with CORVID-19 Airasia Philippines has on Taiwan and remove Taiwan (Corona Virus routes to Taipei and Kaohsiung from the travel ban,” it Disease 2019). Is the basis from Manila, Clark, added. for political rather than and Cebu. Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs for health reasons? It’s

Health Secretary Francisco Ministry also tweeted just unfair to a lot of Filipinos Duque said denied this: “@WHO, what’s wrong in Taiwan,” he said. the travel ban was politically with you? First you called WHO chief Tedros motivated or has us “Taiwan, China,” then Adhanom Ghebreyesus something to do with the you changed to “Taipei.” also said there was no One-china Policy. You misreported the confirmed need for measures that

Taiwan has appealed cases, & now you unnecessarily interfere to Manila to lift the travel call us “Taipei & Environs.” with international travel ban. Look! Taiwan is #Taiwan & and trade in trying to halt

The Taipei Economic not any part of the #PRC.” the spread of a coronavirus and Cultural Office in Manila Taiwan has over a dozen in China. has expressed its grave cases of coronavirus, “We call on all countries concern about the travel but no reports of death to implement ban, in which Taiwan was from the disease. decisions that are evidence-based wrongly included. There are nearly and consistent,”

Taiwan’s inclusion in 200,000 Filipinos working Tedros said. (Cebu the ban was issued by the in Taiwan and could be affected Examiner, PNA.)