Taipei: The decisions by Thailand, the Philippines, and Brunei to grant Taiwan visa-free entry over the past year are the result of years-long consultations, a diplomat in charge of East Asian affairs said Tuesday.

According to Focus Taiwan, Peter Lan, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ MOFA Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, explained that Taiwan initially granted visa-free entry to these three countries in August 2016 to promote two-way travel for business and tourism. Since then, Taiwan has been actively encouraging these ASEAN countries to reciprocate the gesture.

After extensive consultations, Thailand announced in July 2024 that it would provide visa-free entry to Taiwanese citizens. Following this, the Philippines and Brunei decided to extend the same privilege, with implementation dates set for June 23, 2025, and July 1, 2025, respectively, Lan stated.

Beyond consultations, the successful outcome is attributed to MOFA’s implementation of an Integrated Diplomacy and Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. This initiative aims to strengthen economic ties with allies and partners, Lan noted.

A diplomatic source indicated that Taiwan’s long-term goodwill in offering visa-free access to the three ASEAN countries eventually led to these successful agreements. The source highlighted that the countries initially had reservations about reciprocating due to China’s significant influence over ASEAN.

Additionally, the new geopolitical challenges posed by the Trump administration’s tariffs on goods imported into the United States have prompted these ASEAN countries to reconsider their strategies, the source pointed out.

Taking the Philippines as an example, despite its proximity to Taiwan, Taiwanese investments there lag behind those in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The absence of visa-free entry was a barrier to more frequent travel by Taiwanese investors, the source explained.

The combination of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and Taiwan’s interest in the Philippines’ Luzon Economic Corridor project provided extra motivation for the Philippines to reciprocate the visa-free policy, the source added.

The Integrated Diplomacy and Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, launched by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung in May 2024, is designed to enhance substantive relations with allies and like-minded nations.