An earthquake that measured 7.2 on the Richter scale struck the east coast of Taiwan on Wednesday morning and was felt across the nation. Thirteen deaths had been confirmed as of Saturday, with more than 1,000 people injured and hundreds stranded or trapped, mainly in the remote and mountainous areas of Hualien County. It was the strongest earthquake since the 921 Earthquake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale and struck central Taiwan on Sept. 11, 1999, resulting in more than 2,400 deaths and destroying tens of thousands of buildings.
While most local media have focused on updates on the details of damage, infrastructure repairs and rescue efforts across the nation, many foreign news agencies reported on how Taiwan has over the past two decades become “well prepared” and “resilient” against major earthquakes. This was demonstrated by the relatively low casualty figures and minimal damage, compared with earthquakes of a similar magnitude in other countries and the 921 quake. Taiwan has since made great strides, including implementing strict anti-seismic building codes, retrofitting buildings, establishing national centers for earthquake response coordination and training, setting up a sophisticated early warning system, raising public awareness, running safety drills in schools, having highly trained search-and-rescue teams and implementing efficient relief measures.
“Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world,” Missouri University of Science and Technology seismologist Stephen Gao was cited by the Associated Press as saying.
Many political leaders and organizations have expressed their condolences and support for Taiwanese, and spotlighted how it was “well prepared,” “resilient,” “responded fast,” “emerged remarkably unscathed” and was “shaken but unbowed” from the quake. Taiwan can be proud of this, as it has steadily built its resilience and gained international recognition by helping others and proving to be responsible internationally over the past few years.
However, in a meeting about children’s rights, Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the UN Geng Shuang (耿爽) mentioned the quake in “China’s Taiwan” and said “We thank the international community for its expressions of sympathy and concern,” Reuters reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned China’s “shameless use of the Taiwan earthquake to conduct cognitive operations internationally.” Beijing’s offer of aid was also quickly declined by the Mainland Affairs Council, as experience has shown that China’s help is always conditional and politically motivated.
After the 921 Earthquake, China obstructed aid from other countries and the UN, and pushed its “one China” policy agenda, expressing gratitude “on behalf of the Taiwan people.” China has also repeatedly blocked Taiwan from being recognized by other countries and fully participating in international organizations, including exclusion from the WHO during the SARS and COVID-19 outbreaks.
While Taiwan’s military personnel were conducting search-and-rescue and disaster relief operations, Beijing continued its daily harassment by operating military aircraft and vessels around Taiwan, with a few entering the air defense identification zone.
In Taiwan, although many local government search-and-rescue teams were quickly deployed — including Kaohsiung’s teams, which arrived by noon — the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) only highlighted 12 local government rescue teams with KMT heads. KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi also only expressed his gratitude to the KMT’s Taipei and Taichung mayors.
Meanwhile, former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) sobbed over historical figures during his visit to China and reminded Taiwanese to “be proud of being ‘yan huang zisun’ (炎黃子孫)” or descendants of emperors Yan and Huang.
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