Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) yesterday blasted Beijing for blocking Taipei from attending several international events, saying such relentless suppression has hurt the feelings of Taiwanese and is far from conducive to mending cross-strait relations.
At a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Lee said recent developments regarding this year’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Canada and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) suggested that Beijing’s suppression of Taipei in the international arena has become more blatant.
Lee then drew attention to China’s increasing sway over international organizations due to its occupation of significant positions within the agencies, adding that the international community has noticed Beijing’s disregard of global welfare in its efforts to block Taipei’s international participation.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
“The responsibility to resolve the current cross-strait divergence falls on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Beijing’s behavior is neither beneficial to the development of cross-strait ties, nor do they conform to its claims of promoting peace,” Lee said.
Lee said Taiwan’s participation in organizations such as the ICAO, UNFCCC, the WHO and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) concerns the welfare of the international community.
“We will not and should not be absent from these organizations,” he added.
Lee made the remarks after Taiwan was not invited to this year’s ICAO assembly in Montreal or granted access to side events at next month’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakesh, Morocco, reportedly due to Beijing’s intervention.
On the sidelines of the legislative session, Lee dismissed a media report that Taiwan might not be able to participate at Interpol’s annual summit in Indonesia next month as an observer because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs failed to submit an application before the July meeting of the organization’s executive committee.
Lee said the ministry can send in the application next month, adding that it would seek support for Taiwan’s bid from other like-minded nations.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
Carrefour Taiwan is to begin using a new name from the start of July, but it cannot divulge the name until then, the chairman of the supermarket chain's parent company said today. President Chain Store Co chairman Lo Chih-hsien (羅智先) was asked by reporters after a shareholders' meeting to confirm whether the company has settled on a new name for the supermarket brand. In March, the government-registered name of two Carrefour Taiwan branches was quietly changed to "Le Chia Kang" (樂家康) in Chinese, raising speculation that has been selected as the name. Lo said that because of local regulations and contractual obligations, the
The Philippines would likely be involved in any conflict over Taiwan due to its proximity to the democracy claimed by China, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said, reiterating a stance that risks angering Beijing. “In the Philippines, we do not have a choice because Taiwan is so close to the Philippines and we have almost 200,000 Filipino nationals living and working in Taiwan,” Marcos said in an interview with Japanese media in Manila on Monday. The Philippine leader’s comments come ahead of a state visit to Japan next week, where he is to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss security
RSS