Pressure from China was one of the reasons Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo (
Singapore has felt tremendous pressure from China since its leader Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍) visited Taiwan as deputy prime minister in July. Yeo made the remarks in the UN so that China "would feel more comfortable," ministry spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said.
At the 59th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Yeo told world leaders the international community should not allow the deteriorating relationship across the Taiwan Strait to get out of control.
"The push towards independence by certain groups in Taiwan is most dangerous because it will lead to war with mainland China and drag in other countries. At stake is the stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region," he said.
Yeo said cross-strait relationship began to worsen after former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) gave "a shocking interview" to a Japanese magazine describing himself as Moses leading his people out of Egypt.
"From then on, cross-straits relations went from bad to worse as pro-independence forces in Taiwan became increasingly adventurous," Yeo said.
Like in the Middle East, the international community has a strong vested interest in supporting a peaceful resolution of cross-straits conflict, based on the "one China" position adopted and settled by the UN in 1971, Yeo added.
Responding to Yeo's comments, Lu said each country in East and Southeast Asia has a responsibility to contribute to the region's peace and stability. "But they should use even-handed approaches in dealing with Taiwan and China," he said.
"China has deployed many missiles aimed at us. Is that acceptable? Taiwan wants to defend itself. Is that wrong?" the spokesman said, appealing to the international community for fair treatment of Taiwan.
Lee Shen-hsiung (李勝雄), vice chairman of the World United Formosans for Independence, said Taiwan is an independent country and not ruled by China.
"Why can't Singapore, as an independent country, respect Taiwan as a sovereign nation?" he said.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
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