OFWS – PAWNS IN TAIWAN-PHILIPPINE DISPUTE.

OFWS – PAWNS IN TAIWAN-PHILIPPINE DISPUTE.

By Belarmino Dabalos Saguing, Rome, Italy, 12.07.2013 0740 ICT

News item : 20,000 OFWs to lose jobs  http://www.manilatimes.net/20000-ofws-to-lose-jobs/18064/

Opening gambit- A Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead by PCG personnel in what they thought as Philippine territorial waters in Taiwan Strait. This immediately caused a heated protest from Taiwan government followed by lynching actions against OFWs by angered Taiwanese in some cities of Taiwan. 

The Philippine government tarried in replying Taiwan’s demand for explanations from the Philippines that soured more the relations between the countries. Taiwan stopped hiring Filipino workers in retaliation. Philippines still dilly-dallied in answering the problem.

So it began with a blunder by the PCG and made worst by the bunglings of the Philippine government, with Taiwan making the OFWs the sacrificial lambs. But why must OFWs pay for something they are not concerned directly? Why, indeed, did Taiwan choosed to make hostage of OFWs to make the Philippine government pay for its bungling?

In the absence of any official lines from both sides on why they choosed to use the OFWs to punish the Philippines, all we have are conjectures.

Taiwan knew that the Philippines is heavily relying on OFW remittances, without which, the Philippine economy would flounder. It is the weak point of the Philippines who lacked local base industries and an outmoded agricultural system, and they attack precisely at this point knowingly they have the advantage. 

The Philippines cannot afford to lose this pawns, at least not at this moment when the Philippine economic recovery is beginning and they need the OFW money to prop it up.   

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