Taipei's Ongoing Negotiations with Rabat
On August 11, Taipei announced its continued efforts to engage with Rabat to restore travel access for Taiwanese citizens to Morocco. According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), multiple channels of dialogue are being utilized, alongside outreach to countries that share similar positions, to clarify the reasons behind the Moroccan government's recent decision. Yen Chia-liang, the Director-General for West Asian and African Affairs, stated that the ministry aims to achieve "a swift improvement in the current situation" and is calling on Moroccan authorities to maintain "the ease of professional and tourist travel for people from both sides."
Uncertainty Surrounding the Visa Suspension
The Taiwanese diplomatic contingent remains uncertain about the underlying reasons for the Moroccan government's directive on July 20, which instructed its embassies and consulates to halt the processing of visa confirmation letters. This document is a crucial step for Taiwanese nationals wishing to undertake short visits to Morocco, and its absence leaves them with "no other means to travel to Morocco," as articulated by Mr. Yen. Consequently, Taipei is eager for Rabat to restore "normal civil exchanges" between the two parties at the earliest opportunity.
Despite the uncertainty, the information gathered by MOFA suggests that Taiwan does not currently view the Moroccan measure as targeting Taiwanese individuals exclusively. Mr. Yen elaborated that the visa confirmation letter requirement also applies to several other nationalities and territories, including Iran and Kosovo, indicating that its suspension does not solely target Taiwan. Nevertheless, he noted that Taiwanese citizens may represent the "largest group of applicants" affected by this decision. As of Tuesday, no official Moroccan explanation has been provided to substantiate a political or diplomatic motive behind the suspension.
Taipei continues to gather information from Rabat and through third-party countries. Mr. Yen has not established a definitive connection between the Moroccan decision and the recent travel restrictions faced by Taiwanese nationals in several African nations. The ministry has declared its intent to pursue discussions through "appropriate channels" in response to the visa restrictions deemed unfavorable to its citizens.
As negotiations with Rabat unfold, Taipei maintains its reciprocal visa suspension for Moroccan nationals, which has been in effect since July 30. The processing of their visa applications to Taiwan remains halted, with exceptions granted for four categories: family visits and reunifications, studies under the provisions set by Taiwanese authorities, official trips upon government invitation, and medical care.
This restriction was implemented ten days following the Moroccan order on July 20. Mr. Yen explained that Taipei opted for this response based on the "principle of reciprocity in exchanges," while continuing to advocate for the removal of travel barriers in both directions. No timeline for lifting these measures has been announced, with the Taiwanese ministry indicating that any changes will be contingent upon the outcomes of ongoing discussions with Moroccan authorities.
As reported by barlamane.com.
