By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In the event of a full-blown crisis or war between Beijing and Taipei, a U.S.-funded civilian port in Batanes will readily accommodate fleeing Filipino workers from the democratically-run Taiwan which is deemed to be a renegade of mainland China.
Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco revealed over the weekend that there’s a plan to construct a U.S.-funded civilian port in Batanes, the northernmost Philippine island province facing the critical channel separating the country from Taiwan.
She disclosed the U.S. Army will arrive in late April to further discuss the new facility in the province.
The port could be an alternative to the existing one on the island’s western side, Cayco added.
She further said the plan was developed in coordination with the Philippine military and it aims to accommodate fleeing Filipino workers in Taiwan in the event of a crisis.
Data from Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor (MOL) showed that as of October 2023, about 151,562 Filipinos are working in Taiwan, including 123,768 working in the manufacturing sector.
It can be recalled that last month, Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro expressed eagerness to bolster the military presence in Batanes, the country’s northernmost province facing Taiwan.
(el Amigo/MNM)