The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said that the government planned to discuss counter-piracy strategies in the Gulf of Aden with the US and EU in greater detail in the near future, but at the moment Washington has not offered nor agreed to provide escort for Taiwanese vessels.
MOFA Spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said the ministry had not been authorized by the government to negotiate with any other country on counter-piracy measures, but remained ambiguous on what the US and Taiwanese governments had discussed on the topic.
On Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) contacted the Central News Agency to issue a statement saying that the US had discussed the issue with the Taiwanese government and would offer maritime assistance to any vessel in distress.
Although the content offered no new developments, the timing sparked much speculation on why the US chose to release the statement, especially coming so soon after Chinese naval vessels escorted a ship owned by Formosa Plastics last week.
Beijing has also expressed a desire to offer escorts to Taiwanese boats in the troubled waters off the coast of Somalia.
In related news, MOFA yesterday said the annual leadership summit with the nation’s African allies had been called off indefinitely, saying that bilateral relations with the four countries — Sao Tome and Principe, Gambia, Swaziland and Burkina Faso — remained robust.
Andrew Chang (張雲屏), the head of MOFA’s African affairs department, said none of Taiwan’s allies sent delegates to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (楊潔篪) while he was in the region last week. China also did not try to contact Taiwan’s allies.
Chang said Beijing’s hands-off attitude was an indication that it was slowly acquiescing to the diplomatic truce extended by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) when he took office in May.
Meanwhile, MOFA said that despite an extremely low visa-refusal rate of less than 1 percent and the issuance of e-passports, the possibility that Taiwan would be included in the EU visa-waiver program remained slim.
Taiwan recently announced that Latvian passport holders can now enjoy a 30-day visa-free stay in Taiwan, making it the 28th European country to be granted visa-waiver privileges.
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Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
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