As the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York, Taiwanese experts remain excluded from participating in vital discussions on public health, aviation safety, climate change, disaster response, and sustainable development, leaving a serious gap in the international system.
For the Philippines, supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation is not only an act of friendship, but also serves Philippine interests by promoting regional peace, respect for international law, secure supply chains, and economic growth.
What Resolution 2758 actually says
Beijing often cites UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to claim that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and that the PRC has the right to represent Taiwan at the UN. But the truth is that the resolution says no such thing.
Adopted in 1971, Resolution 2758 decided who would represent ‘China’ at the United Nations. It gave China’s seat to the PRC. It did not mention Taiwan, determine Taiwan’s political status, or authorize Beijing to represent the people of Taiwan. The PRC has never governed Taiwan, not for a single day. Beijing’s distortion of Resolution 2758 follows a familiar strategy: repeat a disputed claim, present it as accepted law, and pressure others into silence. If this succeeds against Taiwan, the same tactic could be used to weaken the rights and sovereignty of other countries. International law must be based on what documents actually say, not on what one government wants them to mean.
One China policy is not Beijing’s One China principle
The Philippines’ position is based on the precise wording of the 1975 Joint Communiqué:
‘The Philippine Government recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, fully understands and respects the position of the Chinese Government that there is but one China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory.’
Beijing, however, goes further. Under its One China principle, it claims that Taiwan is part of the PRC and misleadingly seeks to extend its own interpretation to the One China Policies of other countries.
The distinction is clear: the Philippines recognizes the PRC government as the sole legal government of China, but only understands and respects Beijing’s position on Taiwan. The communiqué does not state that the Philippines recognizes or accepts Beijing’s claim that Taiwan is part of the PRC.
This should concern every country. If a powerful state can reinterpret another country’s policy to support its own territorial claims, the same tactic could be used elsewhere.
The Philippines has the sovereign right to define its own foreign policy. Supporting Taiwan’s meaningful international participation is fully consistent with the Philippines’ One China policy.
We are all in one strategic theater
Taiwan and the Philippines face common challenges in the same strategic theater. Across the Indo-Pacific, authoritarian pressure takes many forms: military intimidation, cyberattacks, economic coercion, disinformation, and attempts to rewrite international rules. Such tactics may target one country today and another tomorrow. No country faces them alone.
Peace in the Taiwan Strait is not only a matter for Taiwan. The Strait lies along major sea and air routes connecting the Indo-Pacific. Any conflict would disrupt shipping, energy supplies, air travel, semiconductor production, and regional trade. The consequences would quickly reach the Philippines and place Filipino workers and families across the region at risk. Taiwan remains committed to preserving the status quo and resolving differences peacefully. A peaceful Taiwan Strait and a stable Indo-Pacific serve the same goal: a region where every country can make its own decisions without coercion. We are all in this together.
When one democracy is isolated or intimidated, others become less secure.
Economic resilience is possible for the Philippines
Security also means protecting the economy from political pressure.
China was once the main destination for Taiwanese overseas investment. While this brought commercial benefits, it also created the risk that economic dependence could be used as political leverage. Taiwan therefore began to diversify.
According to statistics from Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, China’s share of Taiwan’s total outward investment fell from 83.8 percent in 2010 to just 2.7 percent in the first quarter of 2025.Taiwanese companies are now expanding across Southeast Asia, the United States, Japan, Europe, and other trusted markets. Taiwan has shown that reducing overdependence on China is possible. The Philippines can do it too.
According to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the Philippines aims to increase its semiconductor and electronics exports to US$110 billion by 2030, bringing more investment and higher-paying jobs for Filipinos. Taiwan could be a valuable partner in achieving this goal.
Taiwanese technology leaders are promoting a new model: not only ‘made in Taiwan,’ but ‘made with Taiwan.’ Taiwan could integrate its technology, manufacturing experience, and global networks with the Philippines’ talented workforce and strong electronics sector. Together, we can build trusted supply chains in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, electronics, renewable energy, and other strategic industries.
Taiwan’s participation benefits the Philippines and the international community
Taiwan’s cooperation with the Philippines has already benefited farmers, students, medical professionals, and local communities. By supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations and related organizations, the Philippines would help build a stronger international system, a safer Indo-Pacific, and a more resilient regional economy.
This is not only support for Taiwan. It is an investment in the Philippines’ own security, prosperity, and sovereign right to shape its future free from coercion and intimidation.
The author is the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.