Premier Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday the government was well prepared for the US-led attack on Iraq and that the strikes had had minimal impact on Taiwan at present.
Yu made the remarks in a press conference after he presided over an inter-agency contingency meeting immediately after the attacks started at around 10:30am.
The premier noted that cross-strait relations were little changed and that strategic supplies of crude oil are at 115 days.
Yu stressed that the Cabinet had asked the Ministry of National Defense to keep abreast of the cross-strait military situation to avoid any unforeseen changes.
To protect overseas Taiwanese, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also actively kept close contact with the US and other countries, advising the nation's diplomatic missions to do their best to protect the safety of Taiwanese.
The government has also urged its nationals, for their own safety, to refrain from traveling near the war zone or associated areas, Yu said.
He said that oil stocks of state-owned Chinese Petroleum and privately owned Formosa Petroleum would last 115 days, and the government prepared to diversify its oil supply sources long ago.
In addition to the Middle East, Taiwan has brought crude oil from the North Sea, West Africa, South-east Asia and Australia. Petroleum supply should not be a problem, Yu said.
Yu noted that major commodities and industrial raw materials have ample supply and that rice stocks are sufficient for seven months. Soybeans, corn and wheat are stockpiled for about two to three months and industrial raw materials for more than 25 days.
He also said that a contingency task force had regularly met every week even before the war broke out and has focused on stabilizing financial markets and transportation networks, stepping up combat readiness and ensuring social order.
Yu the Cabinet has asked all government agencies to be on high alert and initiate its crisis management mechanisms if Taiwan comes under terrorist attack.
Yu expressed the hope that the war would end quickly, and that international order be restored, adding that Taiwan will work with the international community to take part in the humanitarian assistance in the war zone and reconstruction projects.
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