TAIWAN has temporarily suspended the visa-free privilege for Filipinos while it resumed visa waivers for the United States, Canada and some European countries, its Bureau of Consular Affairs (Boca) said.

In an advisory posted on September 7, 2022, Boca said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reinstate visa-exempt entry scheme for nationals of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, European countries, and diplomatic allies starting September 12.

It said visa-free privilege for nationals of Chile, Dominican Republic, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines and Russia is temporarily suspended while undergoing review, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jeanette Ou said.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) chief Silvestre Bello III said it is not true.

He said he confided the matter with Taiwanese Representative to the Philippines Michael Pei-Yung Hsu who told him that there might probably be a “misunderstanding.”

“Maliwanag ang kaniyang sinabi na hindi po totoo 'yan,” said Bello.

"Sabi niya pakiklaro 'yan, false rumor 'yan, hindi totoo 'yan. 'Yan ang sabi sa akin kagabi," he added. (SunStar Philippines)