The free world should come together to support Taiwan and protect the nation’s achievements, former British prime minister Liz Truss told President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday in Taipei.
“What is being achieved here in Taiwan must be protected,” Truss said, calling on democracies around the world to support Taiwan’s endeavors to pursue democracy and economic development.
Freedom and democracy serve the best interests of societies, as they bring prosperity and happiness to people, she said.
Photo: REUTERS
The UK is “very clear that we need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” as the world is facing increasing struggles between democracies and authoritarian regimes, she said.
Taiwan’s ability to defend itself must be ensured, she added.
In addition to security issues, the UK should also strengthen economic ties with Taiwan, she said.
“It’s no understatement to say that Taiwan powers the modern world,” Truss said.
She said that she found Taiwan’s economic achievements impressive, including strong growth rates and leadership in critical industries, especially while facing intimidation from China.
Truss mentioned the idea of forming an “economic NATO,” a concept she had talked about in a speech in Taipei on Wednesday, to allow like-minded democratic countries to cooperate economically to “challenge coercion by authoritarian regimes.”
Tsai welcomed Truss’ first visit to the country, and thanked her for her long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation and security issues across the Taiwan Strait.
The UK “elevated the Taiwan Strait issue from a regional to a global matter” thanks to Truss, as she encouraged G7 countries and NATO to publicly emphasize the importance of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability while serving as British foreign secretary from 2021 to last year, Tsai said.
Truss underlined the importance of democratic allies working together to defend against authoritarian expansion at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Monday, in which Tsai also participated, she said.
Taiwan has been sending the same message to the world: “By acting in solidarity, democracies around the globe will make each other stronger,” she said.
Cooperation between Taiwan and the UK has yielded fruitful outcomes in different sectors over the past few years, she said, adding that she hopes to see more exchanges in supply chain resilience, cybersecurity and technological innovation.
Tsai said she hopes to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the UK to further bolster economic ties between the two sides.
Truss is scheduled to conclude her visit today.
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