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.
MAKING WAVES: China’s maritime militia could become a nontraditional threat in war, clogging up shipping lanes to prevent US or Japanese intervention, a report said About 1,900 Chinese ships flying flags of convenience and fishing vessels that participated in China’s military exercises around Taiwan last month and in January last year have been listed for monitoring, Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said yesterday. Following amendments to the Commercial Port Act (商港法) and the Law of Ships (船舶法) last month, the CGA can designate possible berthing areas or deny ports of call for vessels suspected of loitering around areas where undersea cables can be accessed, Oceans Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said. The list of suspected ships, originally 300, had risen to about
DAREDEVIL: Honnold said it had always been a dream of his to climb Taipei 101, while a Netflix producer said the skyscraper was ‘a real icon of this country’ US climber Alex Honnold yesterday took on Taiwan’s tallest building, becoming the first person to scale Taipei 101 without a rope, harness or safety net. Hundreds of spectators gathered at the base of the 101-story skyscraper to watch Honnold, 40, embark on his daredevil feat, which was also broadcast live on Netflix. Dressed in a red T-shirt and yellow custom-made climbing shoes, Honnold swiftly moved up the southeast face of the glass and steel building. At one point, he stepped onto a platform midway up to wave down at fans and onlookers who were taking photos. People watching from inside
Japan’s strategic alliance with the US would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said yesterday, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event. Takaichi expressed her latest views on a nationally broadcast TV program late on Monday, where an opposition party leader criticized her for igniting tensions with China with the earlier remarks. Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after Takaichi said in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese
A Vietnamese migrant worker yesterday won NT$12 million (US$379,627) on a Lunar New Year scratch card in Kaohsiung as part of Taiwan Lottery Co’s (台灣彩券) “NT$12 Million Grand Fortune” (1200萬大吉利) game. The man was the first top-prize winner of the new game launched on Jan. 6 to mark the Lunar New Year. Three Vietnamese migrant workers visited a Taiwan Lottery shop on Xinyue Street in Kaohsiung’s Gangshan District (崗山), a store representative said. The player bought multiple tickets and, after winning nothing, held the final lottery ticket in one hand and rubbed the store’s statue of the Maitreya Buddha’s belly with the other,
RSS