A US decision to deploy six B-52 bombers on Guam is mainly aimed at coping with the North Korean situation, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (
Kau made the remarks in response to a press inquiry about his views on the recent US announcement that it will again deploy B-52 bombers on Guam.
Kau said the US decision does not have any direct bearing on the situation in the Taiwan Strait.
After the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Kau said, the US is now focusing its attention on North Korea, with the aim of maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
"The B-52 deployment is part of the US effort to strengthen Asia-Pacific security measures," Kau said.
"It is mainly related to the situation on the Korean peninsula and does not directly relate to cross-Taiwan Strait ties," the vice minister said.
Today marked the 25th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the US law that regulates exchanges with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.
Kau, who attended a seminar held by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Parris Chang (張旭成) to review the 25-year history of the act, noted some of the items in the act needed to be reinforced or faithfully observed.
While there were debates concerning whether the act needed amendment, Kau said the document should strengthen its recognition of Taiwan's sovereign status.
Touching on the resignation of American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairwoman Therese Shaheen, Kau said personnel reshuffles are a normal procedure in any government.
Noting that the US has a well-crafted administrative system, Kau said a single personnel change will not affect US policy.
"We need not be overly worried about the AIT personnel reshuffle," Kau said, adding that Shaheen's departure will in no way affect Taiwan-US relations.
As to the possibility of the EU lifting its ban on selling arms to China, Kau said the proposal is not expected to be approved soon.
Kau said some EU member states, such as France and Germany, indeed seek to lift the China-bound arms export ban. However, according to the EU's decision-making apparatus, the proposal must obtain the approval of all EU member states.
Moreover, Kau said, the number of EU members will expand from 15 to 25 on May 1.
"By then, the EU decision-making procedure will have become even more complicated," he said.
"Against this backdrop, I don't think the arms-ban lifting proposal can be passed any time soon," Kau said.
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
‘WORSE THAN COMMUNISTS’: President William Lai has cracked down on his political enemies and has attempted to exterminate all opposition forces, the chairman said The legislature would motion for a presidential recall after May 20, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday at a protest themed “against green communists and dictatorship” in Taipei. Taiwan is supposed to be a peaceful homeland where people are united, but President William Lai (賴清德) has been polarizing and tearing apart society since his inauguration, Chu said. Lai must show his commitment to his job, otherwise a referendum could be initiated to recall him, he said. Democracy means the rule of the people, not the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but Lai has failed to fulfill his
RSS