Ankara: China on Tuesday summoned the Philippines envoy to protest Manila's recent moves regarding Taiwan, the China Daily newspaper reported. Liu Jinsong, the head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs department, called in Jaime FlorCruz to express concerns about the Taiwan issue and broader security matters.

According to Anadolu Agency, this development follows the Philippines' decision to lift a decades-old travel ban on April 21. This ban had previously restricted officials from visiting Taiwan, but now allows Philippine officials to visit Taiwan for trade and investment purposes. The travel ban was originally introduced in 1987 during the presidency of Corazon Aquino and broadly barred government officials from visiting Taiwan or hosting delegations.

Despite the lifting of the ban, travel restrictions remain in place for certain high-ranking officials, including the president, vice president, foreign secretary, and defense secretary. This move has further heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, as China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taipei insists on its independence.