Philippines: Information on the Taiwanese community
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PHL26089.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Philippines: Information on the Taiwanese community, 1 March 1997, PHL26089.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab0d2c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Specific information on the Taiwanese community in the Philippines is scarce because the statistics collected do not distinguish between the Chinese and Taiwanese. The statistics tend to provide information only about the Chinese community in the Philippines.
The following information was provided during a 10 February 1997 telephone interview with a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippines. The source is the president of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, a private think-tank. In 1994 the professor was the director of the Asian studies program at the University of Toronto, and has published a number of academic articles on the Philippines.
The source stated that the small Taiwanese community (around 2,000) is mainly composed of business people. The Taiwanese community should not be confused with the Chinese community in the Philippines. The Taiwanese community is active mainly in the computer and real estate sectors. In general, they are important investors in the Filipino economy.
The following information was provided during a 5 February 1997 telephone interview with a professor of political science at the University of North Texas who is a specialist on judicial politics in the Philippines.
The source stated that the Taiwanese community plays an important role in the investment and business sector in the Philippines.
The following information was provided during a 14 January 1997 telephone interview with the Bangkok-based Asia-Pacific editor of the Jane's Defence Weekly. The source travels frequently to the Philippines and has written extensively on the Philippines and Taiwan.
The source stated that the Taiwanese-Chinese presence in the Philippines is important at the financial level because Taiwan is one of the country's most important investors. Taiwanese businesses are well-established in the country.
The following information was provided during a 3 February 1997 telephone interview with the vice-president of the Taiwan Human Rights Association in Toronto. The source has been involved with the Fishermen's Service Centre (FSC) board between 1985 and 1990 as chairman for one year and as member for four years. The FSC is an organization that provides assistance to fishermen in Taiwan. The FSC is sponsored by the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan.
The source stated that the Taiwanese community in the Philippines is very small and is mainly composed of business people.
For additional information on this subject, please consult the attached documents.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Editor, Jane's Defence Weekly, Asia-Pacific Desk, Bangkok, Thailand. 14 January 1997. Telephone interview.
Professor, department of political science, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines. 10 February 1997. Telephone interview.
Professor, department of political science, University of North Texas, Delton, USA. 5 February 1997. Telephone interview.
Taiwan Human Rights Association, Toronto. 3 February 1997. Telephone interview with vice-president.
Attachments
United Nations, Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis.. 1995. 45th ed. Demographic Yearbook 1993.New York: United Nations, pp. 761-762.
The Xinhua General Overseas News Service. 10 April 1991. "18 Taiwanese Arrested in Manila." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Index to International Statistics (IIS). 1994-1995.
Statistical Yearbook for Asia and the Pacific. 1995.
World Economic and Social Survey: Trends and Policies in the World Economy 1996.
Statistical Indicators: Asia and the Pacific. 1995-1996.
Compendium of Social Development Indicators in the ESCAP Region: UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Databases Consulted
Carleton University
ABI/Inform Databases. 1990-1996.
Global Business Information. 1990-1996.
Canadian Periodical Index. 1990-1996.
Foreign Broadcasts Information Service (FBIS). 1990-1994.
Public Administration Information System (PAIS). 1990-1996.
Readex United Nations: Document and Publication Index of the UN.
World News Index.
Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) Resource Centre
Asia-Pacific Database.
University of Ottawa
Orbis Database.
East Asian Miracle Database.
Expanded Academic Index: Index to Periodical Articles in English Geography.
Index to UN Documents.
Wilson Business Abstracts.
World Population Projection 1994-1995: Population Structure.
World Population Vital Statistics 1994-1995.
Ottawa Public Library
Gateway Database.
Access to National Library of Canada
OPL Database.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Databases
Business Index International.
Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA).
Government Documents.
Les Affaires.