The US and other like-minded countries have always kept a close watch on Taiwan’s relations with all of its diplomatic allies, because such ties help to maintain regional stability, Representative to the US Stanley Kao (高碩泰) said on Saturday.
It is the responsibility of all Taiwanese diplomats stationed overseas to maintain close and cordial interactions with the nation they are posted to, Kao said in response to media queries about the possibility that the Solomon Islands might soon switch diplomatic ties to China.
According to his understanding, the US and like-minded nations are also paying close attention to Taiwan’s relations with its diplomatic allies, he said.
Photo: CNA
They are doing this because it is in the best interests of the region for Taiwan to continue to maintain strong and stable diplomatic relations with its 17 allies, he said, adding that his office and Washington have been keeping in close contact over the issue.
Kao did not elaborate.
The Solomon Islands formed a task force to evaluate ties with Taipei after the Pacific island nation’s general election in April, when Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s government said it would re-evaluate bilateral relations with Taipei during its first 100 days in office.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of a sports event in Washington on Saturday, Kao said the US’ stance has always been to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations so that the nation can contribute its specialties in the areas of humanitarian assistance, natural disaster prevention, health and aviation safety, among others.
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) general assembly is to be held from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 at its headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
Taiwan has been hoping to join the assembly as an observer again, but has not been able to, due to Beijing’s obstruction.
The running event, Taiwan RunFest, was organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and the DC Running Club to mark the 40th anniversary of the US’ Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).
It event signified that Taiwan-US relations would continue to move forward in leaps and bounds, TECRO said in a news release.
It was held at Anacostia Park, next to the Potomac River, and attracted about 500 runners, TECRO said.
American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director John Norris Jr was among the dignitaries at the event, it added.
The TRA was signed in April 1979 by then-US president Jimmy Carter to provide a legal basis for unofficial relations between the US and Taiwan and enshrines in law the US’ commitment to helping Taiwan maintain its self-defense capability.
RETHINK? The defense ministry and Navy Command Headquarters could take over the indigenous submarine project and change its production timeline, a source said Admiral Huang Shu-kuang’s (黃曙光) resignation as head of the Indigenous Submarine Program and as a member of the National Security Council could affect the production of submarines, a source said yesterday. Huang in a statement last night said he had decided to resign due to national security concerns while expressing the hope that it would put a stop to political wrangling that only undermines the advancement of the nation’s defense capabilities. Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Vivian Huang (黃珊珊) yesterday said that the admiral, her older brother, felt it was time for him to step down and that he had completed what he
Taiwan has experienced its most significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, data provided on Sunday by international higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) showed. Compared with last year’s edition of the rankings, which measure academic excellence and influence, Taiwanese universities made great improvements in the H Index metric, which evaluates research productivity and its impact, with a notable 30 percent increase overall, QS said. Taiwanese universities also made notable progress in the Citations per Paper metric, which measures the impact of research, achieving a 13 percent increase. Taiwanese universities gained 10 percent in Academic Reputation, but declined 18 percent
UNDER DISCUSSION: The combatant command would integrate fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups to defend waters closest to the coastline, a source said The military could establish a new combatant command as early as 2026, which would be tasked with defending Taiwan’s territorial waters 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from the nation’s coastline, a source familiar with the matter said yesterday. The new command, which would fall under the Naval Command Headquarters, would be led by a vice admiral and integrate existing fast attack boat and anti-ship missile groups, along with the Naval Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. It could be launched by 2026, but details are being discussed and no final timetable has been announced, the source
CHINA REACTS: The patrol and reconnaissance plane ‘transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,’ the 7th Fleet said, while Taipei said it saw nothing unusual The US 7th Fleet yesterday said that a US Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait, a day after US and Chinese defense heads held their first talks since November 2022 in an effort to reduce regional tensions. The patrol and reconnaissance plane “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” the 7th Fleet said in a news release. “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.” In a separate statement, the Ministry of National Defense said that it monitored nearby waters and airspace as the aircraft