TAIPEI - TAIWAN said it would immediately lift restrictions on Philippine workers imposed after a row over the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to mainland China, ending a dispute that threatened thousands of jobs.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement that the Philippine government's decision on Wednesday to replace its acting head of immigration showed a deep regret on the country's part over the incident and goodwill towards Taiwan.
In Manila, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, said that the change of immigration chief did not have any connection with the deportation case.
'It was never in response to or in a way of appeasing the Taiwanese officials or the Taiwan government on what happened during the recent deportation incident. It is not related to that,' Mr Lacierda told a news conference.
The row blew up last month after the Philippines sent the 14, who were facing fraud charges in a case that also involved mainland Chinese nationals, to Taiwan's political rival China.
Taiwan said they should have been returned to the island and demanded an apology. Talks last month that lasted 11 hours between a special emissary of the Philippines and Taiwan officials failed to produce a result. -- REUTERS
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