Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday said that Japan is ready to assist Taiwan after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit southern Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Abe offered to provide rescue and relief efforts, in a message conveyed to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) by Takashi Hamada, secretary-general of Japan’s representative office in Taipei, the ministry said.
The office represents Japanese interests in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Photo: CNA
Abe expressed sympathy for the earthquake victims, saying that the Japanese government is willing to provide Taiwan with personnel and equipment, the ministry said.
Ma asked Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂) to convey his gratitude to Japan via the association, according to the ministry.
It said Taiwan is still in the process of assessing the damage and losses and would accept Japan’s offer if necessary.
Photo courtesy of a reader
The earthquake, with its epicenter in Kaohsiung, struck at 3:57am yesterday, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 400.
Tainan was hit hard, with several buildings collapsing.
The US yesterday also voiced concern over the quake.
American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Kin Moy yesterday expressed support for Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) and the rescue teams operating in the area.
“On behalf of my AIT family, I want to let all of our good friends in the areas affected by the earthquake know that you are in our thoughts today,” Moy wrote on Facebook.
Moy said the AIT is following events very closely, as the disaster affects many people throughout Taiwan and in the US.
“As some of you may know, my family and I vacationed in Tainan recently,” he wrote. “I especially want to send our support to Mayor Lai and all of our other friends in Tainan. Let’s all back the rescue teams!”
Meanwhile, China yesterday said it was willing to assist in the wake of the earthquake.
Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang (馬曉光) was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying that China was willing to provide rescue and relief assistance to Taiwan, if necessary.
The Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) would formally raise the issue with its Taiwanese counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Ma said.
ARATS has been in contact with the SEF since 6am yesterday and has offered its condolences after the quake, Ma said.
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