TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has secured another diplomatic victory in Southeast Asia as Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) announced Tuesday (June 24) that Taiwanese travelers can now enter Brunei (汶萊) without visas for stays up to 14 days. The small, oil-rich sultanate becomes the third country within Taiwan's strategic New Southbound Policy (新南向政策), a comprehensive initiative aimed at strengthening Taiwan's ties with Southeast Asian and South Asian nations, to grant visa-free privileges to Taiwanese passport holders. Thailand and the Philippines had previously implemented similar entry arrangements for Taiwan citizens.
During the announcement, Minister Lin characterized the new travel arrangement as concrete evidence of the effectiveness of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA, 外交部) multifaceted diplomatic strategy, which has yielded significant progress in expanding Taiwan's international space despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. The foreign minister expressed that this diplomatic breakthrough has provided a substantial morale boost to the ministry's staff working tirelessly on visa liberalization initiatives. Lin emphasized that Taiwan's consistent approach of pursuing mutually beneficial relationships and cordial international engagement has been validated by Brunei's decision to ease entry requirements for Taiwanese citizens.
The foreign minister conveyed Taiwan's appreciation for the persistent diplomatic dialogue and relationship-building that has occurred between officials representing both Taiwan and the sultanate of Brunei over recent years. Lin projected that the visa exemption policy would serve as a catalyst for strengthened bilateral engagement across multiple domains, creating new opportunities for commercial partnerships, increased tourist flows in both directions, expanded cultural exchange programs, and enhanced educational collaboration between academic institutions. The streamlined entry process removes a significant barrier for Taiwanese business travelers, tourists, students, and cultural ambassadors seeking to engage with Brunei's unique market and heritage. ◼
