The US yesterday said that it has a “profound interest” in the continuation of peace and stability between Taiwan and China, just hours after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) won the election.
“We look forward to working with Dr Tsai [Ing-wen] and Taiwan’s leaders of all parties to advance our many common interests and further strengthen the unofficial relationship between the United States and the people on Taiwan,” it said in a statement.
Tsai is to become the first female president of Taiwan when she is inaugurated on May 20.
“We also congratulate the people on Taiwan for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system, which will now undergo another peaceful transition of power,” US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
The US also thanks President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for his efforts to develop a strong partnership with the US and applauds him for the concrete steps he has taken to improve cross-strait ties in recent years, Kirby said in the statement.
“We hope that President Ma’s administration and the incoming administration will work constructively to ensure a smooth transition and continue to promote peace and stability in the region,” he said.
Separately yesterday, during a visit to Tsai’s campaign headquarters in Taipei, former American Institute in Taiwan director William Stanton urged China to give Tsai some time, because he knows Tsai wants stable cross-strait relations.
Stanton said was smart and cautious, adding that Tsai has had contact with China before. She will want stability, he said.
Tsai’s government faces many challenges, including issues concerning pensions, education, labor and cross-strait links, he said, adding that China “should be patient.”
He suggested Tsai send a representative or make a telephone call to Beijing to make her stance clear.
Stanton now lives in Taiwan, and is National Tsing Hua University’s senior vice president of global affairs.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also issued a statement congratulating Tsai.
“The Presidential and legislative elections held in Taiwan today are testament to Taiwan’s thriving democracy. I offer my warm congratulations to the people of Taiwan on the smooth and mature conduct of those elections and to Dr Tsai Ing-wen and her party for having won their support,” Hammond said.
Hammond said he hopes Taiwan and the Chinese Government would continue their dialogue to resolve differences and maintain the recent trend of constructive relations.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old