The Marshall Islands government said yesterday it was worried about the impact on relations with ally Taiwan from a pending visit to China by a group of parliamentarians from the tiny western Pacific nation.
The Marshall Islands is one of six Pacific island states which recognize Taipei rather than Beijing. China and Taiwan have been competing for diplomatic recognition in the Pacific using generous grants and aid to win favor.
Marshall Islands Vice Speaker Ruben Zackhras is leading a delegation of legislators to Beijing next week, following an invitation by China's National People's Congress. Taiwan said earlier this month it was unhappy about the visit.
Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios said yesterday he was extremely concerned because it had the appearance of a government-to-government visit.
The government could not intervene in what was a private visit, he said.
"But it is one with government implications, we have every right to be concerned," he said.
Zackios said the relationship with Taiwan had real benefits for the Marshall Islands and Taipei had shown it was committed for the long term.
The head of the foreign affairs ministry Viola Chong Gum said that the Marshall Islands remained committed to the relationship with Taiwan.
"The proposed visit by several members of the Nitijela [parliament] to the People's Republic of China does not convey, nor does it portray any faltering of the Marshall Islands' relationship and recognition of [Taiwan]," Chong Gum said.
Marshall Islands Speaker Litokwa Tomeing has defended the trip, saying the legislators were simply responding to an invitation from China's National People's Congress.
Commentators say the competition between Taiwan and China for diplomatic recognition has a destabilizing effect on small Pacific states.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost