President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday departed for a four-day visit to Swaziland, her first trip to Africa since assuming office in May 2016.
Four Mirage 2000 fighters from Hsinchu Air Base escorted Tsai’s flight for about 20 minutes from Taoyuan to Hengchun, Pingtung County.
Tsai said over the in-flight broadcast system that once in Swaziland she would review the results of several cooperation projects between the two nations and encourage Taiwanese expatriates and businesses there.
Photo: CNA
She said that while she is away, the administrative and national security teams will continue to closely monitor developments around Taiwan and take necessary measures in the event of an emergency.
Tsai reiterated that the government is duty-bound to maintain peace, stability and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait, adding that the government is confident and determined in safeguarding the nation’s security.
The president was traveling on a direct flight to Swaziland and was expected to arrive in the southern African kingdom at about 3:30pm local time yesterday.
Tsai was to hold talks with Swazi King Mswati III later in the day and sign a joint communique before attending a state dinner hosted by the king.
She is to attend tomorrow a celebration marking 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations and the Swazi king’s 50th birthday, as well as the 50th anniversary of Swaziland’s independence.
She is to present Swaziland with gifts from a Taiwanese Aboriginal community, as well as five cows, which represent wealth in the southern African kingdom and are a traditional ceremonial gift.
During her stay in Swaziland, Tsai and her delegation are to meet with local officials and inspect medical, agricultural and educational initiatives that Taiwan has undertaken there.
There would also be meetings with Taiwanese expatriates and businesspeople in southern Africa.
On the last day of her visit, Tsai is to host a press reception prior to a luncheon with the king, after which they are to go on a safari together before she leaves for home.
Tsai is expected to arrive in Taiwan at about noon Saturday.
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from