Relationship dossier
Philippines
Taiwan
Relationship assessment
Practical unofficial cooperation coexists with the Philippines’ one-China policy and past maritime friction.
Philippines toward Taiwan
+20The Philippine government maintains unofficial economic and cultural engagement with Taiwan under its one-China policy. In 2015, the two sides concluded a fisheries law-enforcement agreement after the 2013 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine personnel.
Taiwan toward Philippines
+25Taiwan maintains unofficial economic and cultural engagement with the Philippines. In 2015, Taiwan concluded a fisheries law-enforcement agreement with the Philippines, and in 2017 it extended visa-free entry to Filipino visitors.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship is shaped by pragmatic, unofficial economic and travel ties, alongside the Philippines’ one-China policy and the absence of formal diplomatic relations. The 2015 fisheries agreement provided a mechanism to address maritime enforcement concerns following a serious 2013 incident.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
The Philippines maintains unofficial economic and cultural engagement with Taiwan while adhering to its one-China policy and having no formal diplomatic relations. Practical ties include travel and fisheries arrangements. Relations have also faced friction over maritime enforcement, notably after the 2013 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine personnel.
Areas of tension
- Taiwan’s status and the Philippines’ adherence to its one-China policy.
- Maritime enforcement and fishing incidents, including the 2013 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine personnel.
Key developments
A Philippine coast guard personnel member fatally shot a Taiwanese fisherman, creating a serious bilateral dispute.
The Philippines and Taiwan concluded a fisheries law-enforcement agreement addressing maritime enforcement and fishing incidents.
Taiwan extended visa-free entry to Filipino visitors.
Major uncertainties
- The full scope and implementation of bilateral economic, labor, and fisheries cooperation are unclear.
- The extent of ongoing government-to-government engagement through unofficial channels is uncertain.