Taiwan did not cancel visa-free travel for Filipinos after 'tourists caught stealing'

This article is more than one year old.
Published on April 20, 2023 at 09:21
Updated on April 20, 2023 at 09:28
3 min read
By Lucille SODIPE, AFP Philippines

Several Facebook posts have falsely claimed recent cases of theft involving Philippine nationals in Taiwan prompted the self-ruled island to cancel its visa-free scheme for Filipinos in 2023. But the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office told AFP there is no truth to the claim, and the posts share an old news report about Filipino pickpockets caught in Taiwan in 2016.

The false claim was shared on Facebook on March 30.

The posts feature a screenshot of messages purportedly sent on the mobile app Viber that read: "Taiwan will stop issuing free visas starting August 1st 2023.

"Lately Pinoy tourists caught on camera stealing purse and wallet in night market and department stores and quickly fly back to the Philippines but some are caught and..."

The screenshot includes a link to a Chinese-language YouTube video whose title translates as: "Theft under the guise of tourism, five Filipino women arrested".

Screenshot of the false post taken on April 12, 2023.

The same screenshot was also shared on Facebook here and here.

However, the claim is false. A spokesperson for Taiwan's representative office in the Philippines has told AFP that the island has not cancelled its visa-free arrangement for Filipinos.

Visa-free scheme

Since 2017, Taiwan has allowed visa-free entry for Filipinos travelling for tourism and other activities for up to 14 days (archived link).

The scheme was extended in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and most recently in 2022. The most recent visa waiver runs until July 31, 2023 (archived links here, here, here, here and here).

Responding to the posts, a representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines -- Taiwan's de facto embassy in Manila -- told AFP on April 19: "Please be informed that this message is false information.

"Taiwan's 14-day visa-free program for Philippine nationals has been benefitting both Taiwanese and Filipino friends since its implementation in 2017.

"The visa waiver program will be reviewed on an annual basis following an overall assessment."

Old video

The YouTube video in the screenshot predates Taiwan's visa waiver scheme for Filipinos.

A keyword search using the video's title led to a news report aired by Taiwanese public broadcaster CTS on May 2, 2016 (archived link).

The 30-second clip features CCTV footage showing a group of people stealing a mobile phone.

Its traditional Chinese summary translates in part as: "Taipei city police have busted a transnational burglary ring, in which five Filipinos visited Taiwan under the pretence of tourism to steal people's mobile phones and bring them back to sell in the Philippines.

"They pretended to buy clothes in a shop and got close to their targets, using the crowd as a cover to strike. Their skills are very deft and they were able to steal nine mobile phones in this manner.

"Luckily, police were able to arrest them all a day before they planned to leave Taiwan."

Taipei-based Formosa TV News Network also aired a report about the incident on the same day (archived link).

Further keyword searches show the reports correspond to a press release issued by the Taipei City Police Department about several Filipinos they arrested on April 25, 2016 (archived link).

According to the police statement, the suspects stole mobile phones from shoppers at the Wufenpu Garment District and Shilin Night Market. Both are famous tourist spots in Taiwan.

AFP has not found any recent news reports about Filipino pickpockets in Taiwan being caught on camera.

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