Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) said yesterday that he supports Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The minister made the remarks after meeting with the new deputy representative to Japan, Chen Hung-chi (陳鴻基), who left for Tokyo yesterday and was to assume his new post the same day.
The minister said that during his recent visit to the US, he was asked about his view on Japan's quest for a Security Council permanent seat.
"I told my US hosts that I support Japan's bid and would be pleased to see Japan enter the Security Council as a permanent member," he said.
He said that Japan donates 20 percent of the annual UN budget and has had outstanding economic achievements over the past decades.
"The world should not continue to restrict Japan's role in international affairs due to its aggressive military action 60 years ago. I think the United Nations should work out a more reasonable Security Council organic framework with Japan, Germany, India and Brazil being given permanent seats," he said.
Regardless of the fact that Taiwan lost its UN seat in 1971, Chen said that, since the Republic of China had been a founding member of the world body, it could possibly help Japan's efforts to obtain a permanent seat, although the issue would need further study.
Meanwhile, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission Chairwoman Chang Fu-mei (張富美) also expressed support for Japan's Security Council bid, as Tokyo has on many occasions spoken out in favor of Taiwan in the international arena, and the two countries have traditionally maintained close relations. Chang said Japan cast a "yes" vote in Taiwan's failed bid to join the World Health Assembly in May.
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
Tigerair Taiwan and China Airlines (CAL) today announced that several international flights were canceled or rescheduled due to Typhoon Ragasa. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has maintained sea and land warnings for the typhoon. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) on Taiwan's southern tip at 11am today. Tigerair Taiwan said it canceled Monday's IT551/IT552 Taoyuan-Da Nang, IT606/IT607 Taoyuan-Busan and IT602 Taoyuan-Seoul Incheon flights. Tomorrow, cancelations include IT603 Seoul Incheon-Taoyuan, as well as flights between Taoyuan and Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo Narita, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Saga, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Asahikawa and Jeju. On Wednesday, the IT321/IT322 Kaohsiung-Macau round-trip would also be canceled. CAL announced that today's
Three tropical depressions yesterday intensified into tropical storms, with one likely to affect Taiwan as a typhoon, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The three storms, named Mitag, Ragasa and Neoguri, were designated as storms No. 17 to 19 for this year, the CWA said. Projected routes indicate that Ragasa is most likely to affect Taiwan, it said. As of 2am today, Ragasa was 1,370km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) on the southernmost tip of Taiwan. It was moving west-northwest before turning northwest, slowing from 11kph to 6kph, the agency said. A sea warning for Ragasa is unlikely before Sunday afternoon, but its outer rim