Palace says gov’t just following WHO on including Taiwan in travel ban

February 11, 2020

The Philippine government is not inclined to lift the travel ban against Taiwan.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the government's travel ban against Taiwan was part of its earlier imposition against China and its special administrative regions amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"The travel ban, I understand, that included China was the basis of the World Health Organization including Taiwan as part of China," he said.

"And since there's a ban on China, necessarily, Taiwan being part of China is included. And we always follow the recommendation of the World Health Organization," he explained.

The Philippines adheres to One-China policy, which means that Taiwan is still part of China.

Taiwan was not included in the expanded travel ban that the government initially imposed against China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The Bureau of Immigration announced on Monday that included in the travel ban are tourists from Taiwan.

Taiwan has urged the Philippines to lift the travel ban. Celerina Monte/DMS