Shabbos in Taiwan and in the Philippines

Question

Hello! I have to spend some time in the Far East. I heard that there are different opinions as to which day is Shabbos there. I’m going to be in Taiwan and the Philippines, after arriving there on a flight from Tokyo.  

Answer

Every place whose landmass begins before 125.2° longitude, such as Taiwan, almost all of the Philippine Islands and a significant part of Indonesia, the Shabbos is the same as our Shabbos.

As for the countries whose landmass begins beyond the 125.2° meridian, such as Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (including the part of the Indonesian island), some islands of Indonesia, Tasmania and the like, there are differences of opinion. We generally rely on the opinion of the Chazon Ish, who held that their Shabbos is on Sunday. [That is, the day that they call “Sunday”.] But practically, one should be stringent and keep Shabbos of both days (Saturday and Sunday). It’s best to avoid being there on Saturday or Sunday, if possible.

As for countries such as Australia, whose landmass begins before 125.2° longitude, and also the Eastern parts of Siberia and both Koreas, one keeps Shabbos there on the same day as here.

 

Source

Chazon Ish, section Orach Chaim, chapter “18 Hours”

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