The first session of the Taiwan-US Consultations on Democratic Governance in the Indo-Pacific Region began yesterday at the American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) new compound in Taipei, with the AIT saying that promoting Taiwan as a model of good governance is one of the forum’s goals.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and AIT Director Brent Christensen in March announced the establishment of the forum.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Busby — who is leading a US delegation on a five-day trip that ends today — and representatives from Japan, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, Kiribati and South Korea attended opening ceremony.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
The forum, which is to be held annually, is designed to formalize, regularize and deepen cooperation between the US and Taiwan on good governance issues, Christensen said in his opening speech.
The forum is a testament to the US’ belief that Taiwan deserves international backing and is well-equipped to support the international community in many ways, he said.
The US’ vision for the Indo-Pacific region has three pillars: economics, security and governance, Christensen said.
Taiwan truly exemplifies good governance as plays a role in all of the three pillars, he said, adding that there is a need to promote transparency and rule of law in the region.
The US’ Indo-Pacific Transparency Initiative (IPTI) aims to pursue cooperation with allies, partners and regional institutions, including ASEAN and APEC, and the forum would focus on exploring concrete ways to fully incorporate Taiwan in the initiative, he said.
In his speech, Wu said that Taiwan and the US have already been working hand-in-hand in each of the five major areas the IPTI covers.
“Taiwan’s embrace of democracy shows a better path for all Chinese,” Wu said. “However, the world should not take Taiwan’s hard-earned democracy for granted.”
China is attempting to undermine democracy in Taiwan, which is the target of mounting military pressure, increasing influence operations and an intensifying disinformation campaign, he said.
People in Hong Kong and other parts of China might one day not look up to Taiwan as a model to emulate, he said.
Nevertheless, Taiwan knows its responsibility and is determined to make itself a beacon for those longing for freedom, democracy and protection of human rights, he said.
As Taiwan in March promised it would donate US$1 million over five years to the International Religious Freedom Fund run by the US Department of State, Wu yesterday presented Christensen with a mockup of a check for the first donation of US$200,000.
Additional reporting by CNA
EIGHT KILLED: Three of the four juvenile victims were children of the man suspected of setting the fire at the tire repair shop after a family dispute Four of the eight people killed in a fire in Hsinchu City on Wednesday night were children and the other four were adults who died while trying to rescue the children from the second floor of the burning building, the city’s Fire Bureau said yesterday. Fire Bureau First Corps commander Chang Chih-chih (張智智) told a news conference that the fire at Zheng Yi Tire Repair Shop on Dongda Road might have been intentionally set by the owner’s son, Chen Yen-hsiang (陳彥翔), who earlier had an argument with other family members. Chen allegedly bought gasoline and lit a fire near four motorcycles inside
FIFA World Cup host Qatar has corrected an online application form that listed Taiwan as part of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Following the ministry’s protest on Wednesday, “Taiwan” replaced “Taiwan, Province of China” on a dropdown menu on the Web site to apply for a Hayya Card, an identification card all World Cup spectators are required to obtain, ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said. “We express our appreciation to the event organizers for their swift response in making the correction and safeguarding the rights of our nation’s fans,” she added. The card also serves as an entry visa for
FIVE QUESTIONED: Customers reported faulty kits after Safeway OA Supply Co allegedly imported poor-quality versions from China and sold them as US-made products The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday banned the sale and importation of Flowflex COVID-19 rapid test kits, after 2.37 million flawed kits, allegedly made in China, entered the Taiwanese market and were sold to 13 government agencies. According to regulations, the kits should be manufactured in factories in the US, but the importer allegedly imported poor-quality kits from China illegally and sold them as US-made products, FDA section chief Fu Ying-hsien (傅映先) said. The FDA ordered that all Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Tests that were imported by Safeway OA Supply Co Ltd (大鑫資訊) be recalled and warned customers against buying or
NEW TRAVEL REGIME: The CECC advised people to stay put in between quarantine and self-disease prevention, but said that they could apply for a location change Inbound travelers who need to change locations for the four-day self-disease prevention period following their three-day quarantine must apply with their local government, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday. The “one person per household” principle would remain in place under the new “3+4” quarantine policy, which was implemented yesterday, the center said. More than 4,500 incoming travelers were expected yesterday, including more than 980 people who entered Taiwan in the early morning, said Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞), the CECC’s acting spokesman and medical response division deputy head. Lo said many people had asked the CECC whether
RSS