Former Environmental Protection Administrator Lin Chun-yi (
Lin, 61, said in an interview that he accepted with great pleasure his new assignment to serve the country.
Lin, a biologist and environmental activist, said he will focus his efforts on improving bilateral relations, particularly on promoting civilian, economic and cultural exchanges.
Lin is no stranger to Africa. During his service with a Christian church in the US, Lin recalled, he had been assigned to Tanzania, Kenya and several other African states to help establish biological sciences educational facilities.
"I also took the opportunity to conduct biological and ecological research there. I have many fond memories of my life and work in those countries. After leaving Africa, I still harbored a special affection for the continent," Lin said, adding that he was excited about his new mission.
Lin said that although he is a novice in the diplomatic world, he would devote his full energy to fulfilling his duty and contributing to Taiwan's diplomatic cause.
He said he has been endeavoring to obtain more knowledge about Gambia through the Internet. Noting that Gambia upholds freedom and democracy and has a stable investment climate, Lin said he will push for increased Taiwan investment in the West African nation after taking his new job.
Lin also said that local entrepreneurs should consider investing in the electronics, power, agricultural, aquacultural and livestock sectors in Gambia.
Touching on the heavy human cost and property damage inflicted by Typhoon-triggered mudslides in Taiwan's mountainous regions in the central county of Nantou and the eastern county of Hualien, Lin said he was very saddened by the typhoon tragedy.
Lin said he sounded warnings more than 10 years ago against over-exploitation of mountainous regions and Taiwan's lax soil and water resource conservation efforts.
"We are now paying the price for our past mistakes. In the face of the recent disaster, we must pay more heed to environmental protection and forestation. Otherwise, we will encounter much more adversity," he noted.
Lin resigned from the top EPA post early this year to take the blame for the handling of the wreck of the Greek cargo ship MV Amorgos which contaminated coral reefs off the southern coast.
‘NO SECURITY RISK’: The Railway Bureau reassured the public that the technicians’ activities were limited to technical guidance and did not involve sensitive systems The Railway Bureau yesterday said it had invited eight Chinese technicians to assist with an airport MRT construction project. The bureau issued the confirmation after an Internet user said Chinese nationals had entered the construction zone of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 project. They asked why “individuals from an enemy state” were allowed access to such a major national infrastructure project, which raised serious concerns over Taiwan’s industrial safety, sensitive systems and information security. The bureau’s Northern Region Engineering Branch Office said subcontractor Taiwan Handle Industrial Co (台灣手把工業) of the Taoyuan airport MRT’s “Contract No. CU05 Project A14 Station Civil, MEP &
A signaling system malfunction disrupted high-speed rail (HSR) services beginning at 8am today, with trains temporarily reduced to three northbound and three southbound trains per hour as authorities conduct inspections. The malfunction occurred on a section of track in Miaoli County during pre-operation checks early this morning, forcing northbound and southbound trains to use a single track, the HSR operator said. The regular schedule has been replaced with three hourly trains offering only nonreserved seating in each direction, stopping at every station, it said, adding that business class cars would still have reserved seating. Departures from terminal stations are scheduled at the top
Taiwan is still in the process of assessing the possibility of recruiting workers from Eswatini, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, adding that its goal is to help Eswatini upgrade its vocational training centers. If there are plans to recruit workers from Eswatini, safeguarding national security, protecting public health and ensuring the employment rights of Taiwanese would be prerequisites, Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Yen Chia-liang (顏嘉良) told a news conference. Key considerations would also include filling labor shortages in specific industries, and fostering bilateral professional and technical exchanges, he said. Yen was asked about the progress of labor
A US uncrewed surface vessel (USV) encountered multiple Chinese warships during an autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait, US defense company Seasats said in a statement on Wednesday. Seasats announced that a Lightfish USV had completed the first autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait. Over five days, the USV traversed the entire length of the Strait while constantly monitoring surface vessel traffic, the company said. The Lightfish encountered multiple Chinese warships, one of which was a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 056 corvette, it said. The Chinese vessels were operating “well within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone without transmitting their identity via the
RSS