Taiwan is looking to play a “crucial” role in the development of the Indo-Pacific region in the post-COVID-19 era, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday at the opening of the two-day Yushan Forum in Taipei.
Taiwan can be “a crucial actor” by assisting in regional and global economic recovery, and contributing to efforts to restructure supply chains, Tsai said.
“While Taiwan stands on the front line of authoritarian expansion, our resilient economy and industrial supply chain remain a vital part of the regional ecosystem,” she said.
Photo: Ann Wang, REUTERS
Tsai pledged to place more emphasis on the government’s New Southbound Policy, an initiative her administration launched in 2016 aimed at expanding economic, cultural and political ties with Southeast Asia, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
The policy is to be Taiwan’s “pivotal regional policy for Asia” as it works to “bolster our security and economic ties with partners across the region,” Tsai said.
The government would integrate Taiwan’s capacity in high-tech industries with the policy to promote “a digital New Southbound initiative,” she said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Taiwan’s enterprises have significantly increased their investment in the 18 countries included in the policy over the past six years, with investment from Taiwan in those countries reaching US$2.2 billion from January to July, Tsai said.
In the first quarter of this year, profits from investments in those 18 countries by listed Taiwanese companies surpassed profits from investment in China by the same companies for the first time, she said.
Former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso said in pre-recorded remarks that he felt a sense of responsibility to further strengthen the relationship between Taiwan and Japan after the passing of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.
Aso also condemned Russia for “military aggression” against Ukraine, saying that attempts to unilaterally change the “status quo” by force are “not permitted anywhere in the world.”
Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya said that like-minded countries should work together to prevent a crisis in the Taiwan Strait, while expressing concern over China’s growing military pressure on Taiwan.
“A contingency in Taiwan means a contingency for Japan and a contingency for countries that share common values of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and basic human rights,” said Furuya, who is chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, a 270-member group dedicated to promoting ties between Japan and Taiwan.
Furuya also announced that the second Taiwan-US-Japan strategic forum for lawmakers would be held next month, following the first edition in July last year.
Speaking virtually during a forum luncheon, former Australian minister for foreign affairs Julie Bishop called on all countries to forge closer ties with Taiwan, describing the nation as a force for good and stability in a rapidly changing world.
Bishop, who was her country’s top diplomat from 2013 to 2018, lauded Taiwan for playing an important role in supporting many Pacific nations that have deep ties with Australia, referring to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the region: the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and Tuvalu.
“I know there remains great affection and appreciation for the people of Taiwan among those Pacific island nations,” said Bishop, who has been the chancellor of Australian National University since January 2020.
However, with the rise of Chinese influence in many Pacific nations through Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Bishop said there has been a “contest of ideas.”
Bishop said that multilateralism “fails the world,” with Russia and China being permanent members of the UN Security Council, giving them veto rights.
She called on like-minded partners to work in “smaller groupings” to protect common interests.
She proposed that smaller members of the global community such as Taiwan and Australia develop policies to influence other nations and institutions through a supportive multilateral system.
The sixth edition of the Yushan Forum features speeches and panel discussions by former government officials, lawmakers, academics, business leaders and representatives of civic groups from 12 countries, said the event’s organizer, the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation.
Also attending the forum are Rose Gottemoeller, a former NATO deputy secretary-general and US undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, and Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr, among others.
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