The Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines (TAP) held its 45th–46th Presidential and Supervisory Board turnover ceremony on January 18 in Manila, marking a pivotal milestone in the organization’s history and highlighting the deepening partnership between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Ms. Jia Hsieh, a second-generation Taiwanese business leader, officially assumed the presidency, receiving the association’s seal from outgoing President Tom Lin. The ceremony was officiated by Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines, Ambassador Wallace M.G. Chow, and national policy advisor to the President, Kai-min Lin, and attended by Minister Chia-ching Hsu of Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), demonstrating strong government support for overseas Taiwanese business communities.

In her inaugural address, Hsieh outlined her vision for the next two years under the banner of the Taiwan Link initiative, aimed at fostering stronger connections among Taiwanese businesspeople in the Philippines, encouraging generational succession, and increasing youth participation. She highlighted that Taiwan Link will serve as a platform to expand professional networks, enhance mutual support, and infuse new energy into TAP’s activities.

Ahead of the ceremony, Hsieh launched Taiwan Link through an interactive networking session, enabling participants from across Asia to engage directly with locally based Taiwanese entrepreneurs, exchange contacts, and explore potential collaborations.

The event drew a distinguished audience from both Taiwan and the Philippines. Taiwanese attendees included legislators Chih-wei Chiu, Chia-pin Chung, and Mong-kai Hung, alongside senior officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and representatives from Taiwanese business associations across Asia. Philippine attendees included cabinet officials, members of Congress, and senior representatives from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reflecting the growing significance of Taiwan–Philippines economic and people-to-people exchanges.

In his remarks, Ambassador Chow commended TAP’s enduring role as a bridge between Taiwan and the Philippines, noting tangible achievements in trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation over the past year. He expressed confidence that the new leadership would further expand opportunities for collaboration.

Minister Hsu called the leadership transition a historic moment, emphasizing that Hsieh’s appointment as a second-generation leader symbolizes successful generational succession within the overseas Taiwanese business community. She expressed gratitude to Taiwanese entrepreneurs for their long-term contributions to economic development and public diplomacy, particularly during global uncertainties.

Hsieh reaffirmed TAP’s commitment to supporting Taiwan–Philippines economic cooperation, including alignment with regional initiatives such as the Luzon Economic Corridor. She stressed that TAP will remain a reliable partner for both governments and businesses, offering on-the-ground support for Taiwanese enterprises seeking to invest or expand in the Philippines.

Founded nearly five decades ago, TAP now boasts a leadership team largely under 50, signaling renewed vitality and adaptability. Hsieh concluded by pledging to deepen engagement with Filipino communities, promote cross-sector and cross-generational collaboration, and ensure TAP continues to thrive as a forward-looking platform for Taiwan–Philippines cooperation.

The event, organized by the Taiwanese Chamber of the South Philippines (TCSPI), was held on January 1 at its clubhouse and gathered around 200 participants, including Taiwanese business leaders, community representatives, volunteers from Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, and local stakeholders.

Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines, Ambassador Wallace M. G. Chow, said the gathering reflected the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. He noted that 2025 saw notable progress in Taiwan–Philippines cooperation and expressed confidence that economic engagement would further expand in 2026.

TCSPI President Jeff Yu emphasized the long-standing role of Taiwanese enterprises in the Philippine economy, particularly in southern Luzon. He noted that many Taiwanese firms have operated in the region for more than two to three decades, contributing to employment generation, industrial development, and supply-chain resilience despite global economic headwinds.

Ambassador Chow also pointed to recent initiatives that have reinforced bilateral cooperation, including expanded official exchanges, visa-free entry arrangements for Taiwanese travelers, and large-scale Taiwanese trade and investment missions to key Philippine growth centers such as Subic, Clark, and Metro Manila. These efforts, he said, support deeper collaboration in priority sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and technology.

The presence of leaders from major Taiwanese and Filipino-Chinese business and community organizations nationwide highlighted the private sector’s active role in advancing Taiwan–Philippines economic engagement.