Japan, the UK, the EU, Singapore and China have expressed their condolences to the families of the people killed by gas explosions that ripped through a neighborhood in Greater Kaohsiung on Thursday night, causing at least 28 deaths and leaving at least 286 people injured.
Japan’s representative to Taiwan Mikio Numata sent letters of condolence on Friday to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂) and Association of East Asian Relations Chairman Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進)
Speaking on behalf of Japan’s Interchange Association, Numata said that he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the blasts in Kaohsiung that killed many people, including firefighters, and offered his deepest sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives.
Photo: AFP
The European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, on behalf of the EU, also expressed its sincere condolences to the families, the office said on Facebook.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Kaohsiung and we wish prompt recovery to the injured,” the post read.
The Taipei-based British Trade and Cultural Office said in a statement on Friday that it was saddened to learn of the gas explosions that caused heavy loss of life and many injuries.
The Singapore Trade Office in Taipei on Friday also issued a statement extending “deepest condolences.”
Meanwhile, sources said China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits Chairman Chen Deming (陳德銘) called Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Lin Join-sane (林中森).
Chen conveyed China’s sympathy for those affected by the incident, adding that China is willing to provide assistance if it is needed, the sources said.
Taiwan is to commence mass production of the Tien Kung (天弓, “Sky Bow”) III, IV and V missiles by the second quarter of this year if the legislature approves the government’s NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.78 billion) special defense budget, an official said yesterday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, a defense official with knowledge of the matter said that the advanced systems are expected to provide crucial capabilities against ballistic and cruise missiles for the proposed “T-Dome,” an advanced, multi-layered air defense network. The Tien Kung III is an air defense missile with a maximum interception altitude of 35km. The Tien Kung IV and V
The disruption of 941 flights in and out of Taiwan due to China’s large-scale military exercises was no accident, but rather the result of a “quasi-blockade” used to simulate creating the air and sea routes needed for an amphibious landing, a military expert said. The disruptions occurred on Tuesday and lasted about 10 hours as China conducted live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait. The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said the exercises affected 857 international flights and 84 domestic flights, affecting more than 100,000 travelers. Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the government-sponsored Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said the air
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
RSS