Taiwan and the US on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate consular assistance and institutionalize consular functions for better protection of Taiwanese and Americans in each country.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) Deputy Representative Louis Huang (黃敏境) and American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director John Norris signed the MOU Regarding Certain Consular Functions in Washington on behalf of their respective countries, TECRO said in a statement.
The signing was witnessed by US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Karin King and Office of Taiwan Coordination Director Ingrid Larson, TECRO said.
Consular functions on both sides are expected to be institutionalized to better protect the rights and welfare of citizens of both countries, the office said.
For example, if a Taiwanese is arrested in the US, American law enforcement authorities would be expected to immediately inform the detainee that they have the right to ask that TECRO be notified and to request a visit by a representative of the office, the MOU says.
However, if in the interest of privacy a Taiwanese detainee does not wish to make such a request, US authorities would abide by that decision, the office said.
Based on the principle of reciprocity, the consular notification would also apply to US citizens in Taiwan, the MOU says.
As Taiwan and the US commemorate the 40th anniversary of the US’ Taiwan Relations Act, the MOU is expected to enhance substantive cooperation between the two sides, TECRO said.
It is reflective of the enduring partnership between Taiwan and the US, which was forged based on their shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for fundamental human rights, it said.
REMINDER: Of the 6.78 million doses of flu vaccine Taiwan purchased for this flu season, about 200,000 are still available, an official said, following Big S’ death As news broke of the death of Taiwanese actress and singer Barbie Hsu (徐熙媛), also known as Big S (大S), from severe flu complications, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and doctors yesterday urged people at high risk to get vaccinated and be alert to signs of severe illness. Hsu’s family yesterday confirmed that the actress died on a family holiday in Japan due to pneumonia during the Lunar New Year holiday. CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) told an impromptu news conference that hospital visits for flu-like illnesses from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25 reached 162,352 — the highest
COMBINING FORCES: The 66th Marine Brigade would support the 202nd Military Police Command in its defense of Taipei against ‘decapitation strikes,’ a source said The Marine Corps has deployed more than 100 soldiers and officers of the 66th Marine Brigade to Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) as part of an effort to bolster defenses around the capital, a source with knowledge of the matter said yesterday. Two weeks ago, a military source said that the Ministry of National Defense ordered the Marine Corps to increase soldier deployments in the Taipei area. The 66th Marine Brigade has been tasked with protecting key areas in Taipei, with the 202nd Military Police Command also continuing to defend the capital. That came after a 2017 decision by the ministry to station
TRIP TO TAIWAN: The resumption of group tours from China should be discussed between the two agencies tasked with handling cross-strait tourism, the MAC said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday reassured China-based businesspeople that he would follow former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) cross-strait policy to facilitate healthy and orderly exchanges with Beijing and build a resilient economy. “As president, I have three missions. First, I will follow president Tsai’s ‘four commitments’ to ensure that the country continues to exist and survive,” Lai told participants at a Lunar New Year event in Taipei hosted by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). Lai said his second mission is to uphold the “four pillars of peace” by bolstering national defense, developing a growing and resilient economy, building partnerships with
‘INVESTMENT’: Rubio and Arevalo said they discussed the value of democracy, and Rubio thanked the president for Guatemala’s strong diplomatic relationship with Taiwan Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Guatemala City on Wednesday where they signed a deal for Guatemala to accept migrants deported from the US, while Rubio commended Guatemala for its support for Taiwan and said the US would do all it can to facilitate greater Taiwanese investment in Guatemala. Under the migrant agreement announced by Arevalo, the deportees would be returned to their home countries at US expense. It is the second deportation deal that Rubio has reached during a Central America trip that has been focused mainly on immigration. Arevalo said his