Belize stands in solidarity with Ukraine and Taiwan, as both nations have encountered “aggression” from their neighbors, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceno said in a pre-recorded video yesterday.
“We stand in solidarity with Ukraine, as we do with Taiwan, which itself faces increased aggression from China,” Briceno said in the video, which was played at a ceremony in Taipei to mark the 41st anniversary of Belize’s independence.
The Central American nation achieved independence from the UK on Sept. 21, 1981.
Photo: CNA
“Dictatorial aggression” against Ukraine has not only resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, but has also affected countries around the world, including Belize, Briceno said.
The Central American country supports Taiwan and Ukraine, because “we truly believe in the right to self-determination,” he added.
Belizean Ambassador to Taiwan Candice Augusta Pitts echoed the prime minister’s view, reaffirming at the event Belize’s “championing of Taiwan’s right to nationhood and self-determination.”
“Belize continues to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system,” the ambassador said while underlining the friendship and mutual support between the two nations in their 33 years of formal diplomatic relations.
Vice President William Lai (賴清德) thanked the Belizean government for its support for Taiwan when Taipei faces “growing threats” from Beijing, alluding to the increased military and economic pressure by China since a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi early last month.
Despite facing these threats, the government would remain calm and rational, Lai said at the event, adding that it would never compromise the nation’s national sovereignty or democratic system.
Taiwan and Belize have enjoyed cordial relations over the past three decades through collaborations in such areas as public health, agriculture, education, information technology and environmental protection, Lai said.
In recent years, bilateral ties have further deepened, as Belize continues to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly and other UN agencies, and Taiwan rolled out training programs for Belizean women, youth and small business owners, he said.
At the same time, trade and cultural exchanges have also expanded, Lai said, adding that bilateral trade saw a significant increase last year compared with 2020.
According to Customs Administration data, bilateral trade last year reached US$11.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 76 percent.
As part of the celebrations of Belize’s independence day, the Belizean embassy in Taiwan and the Central America Trade Office (CATO) on Tuesday last week launched Belize Culture Month at Bopiliao Historic Block in Taipei, featuring paintings, photographs and handicrafts created by Belizean artists, CATO said.
The event, which is to run until Sept. 25, also includes talks over the weekend, when experts will be invited to discuss Belize’s history, culture and cuisine, allowing local visitors to get a better understanding of Taiwan’s Central American ally, CATO said.
One of two tropical depressions that formed off Taiwan yesterday morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. The weather system is expected to move northwest as it builds momentum, possibly intensifying this weekend into a typhoon, which would be called Mitag, Lee said. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is forecast to approach the southeast of Taiwan on Monday next week and pass through the Bashi Channel
WARNING: People in coastal areas need to beware of heavy swells and strong winds, and those in mountainous areas should brace for heavy rain, the CWA said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued sea and land warnings for Typhoon Ragasa, forecasting that it would continue to intensify and affect the nation the most today and tomorrow. People in Hualien and Taitung counties, and mountainous areas in Yilan and Pingtung counties, should brace for damage caused by extremely heavy rain brought by the typhoon’s outer rim, as it was upgraded to a super typhoon yesterday morning, the CWA said. As of 5:30pm yesterday, the storm’s center was about 630km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving northwest at 21kph, and its maximum wind speed had reached
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said that it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Ragasa this morning and a land warning at night as it approached Taiwan. Ragasa intensified from a tropical storm into a typhoon at 8am yesterday, the CWA said, adding that at 2pm, it was about 1,110km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip. The typhoon was moving northwest at 13kph, with sustained winds of up to 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA Web site showed. Forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said that Ragasa was projected to strengthen as it neared the Bashi Channel, with its 200km
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hualien and Taitung counties declared today a typhoon day, while schools and offices in parts of Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties are also to close Typhoon Ragasa was forecast to hit its peak strength and come closest to Taiwan from yesterday afternoon through today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Taiwan proper could be out of the typhoon’s radius by midday and the sea warning might be lifted tonight, it added. CWA senior weather specialist Wu Wan-hua (伍婉華) said that Ragasa’s radius had reached the Hengchun Peninsula by 11am yesterday and was expected to hit Taitung County and Kaohsiung by yesterday evening. Ragasa was forecast to move to Taiwan’s southern offshore areas last night and to its southwestern offshore areas early today, she added. As of 8pm last night,
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