Australia would stand firmly with Taiwan and support the freedom Taiwanese enjoy, former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said yesterday during a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
Morrison, who is in Taiwan to participate in the Double Ten National Day celebrations yesterday and deliver a speech at the Yushan Forum today, said that his long-term dream of visiting Taiwan had come true.
Taiwan is no stranger to the uncertainty, threats and challenges the world is facing, he said, extending his congratulations to Tsai for her “strong leadership,” as she stood up for peace and the freedom of Taiwanese.
Photo: Chen Yun, Taipei Times
He acknowledged the importance of the partnership between Australia and Taiwan, including people-to-people, economic, social and cultural ties.
“But above all these, it is a partnership that has a great respect for freedom and democracy,” he said.
Australians would always be great friends of the people of Taiwan, he said, while reaffirming Australia’s support to ensure Taiwan’s resiliency in deterring violence or aggression against the freedom of its people.
Morrison, who was prime minister from 2018 to last year, said that Australia often looked to the example of Taiwan during the difficult years of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tsai thanked Morrison for the support of the Australian parliament and its government through underlining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait in statements and visits conducted by lawmakers.
Taiwan is to continue working with like-minded partners such as Australia to safeguard regional freedom and prosperity, she said.
Later yesterday, Tsai met with Saint Kitts and Nevis Governor-General Marcella Liburd, who said that her nation cherishes its relations with Taiwan and was grateful for Taiwan’s assistance throughout the years.
Taiwan has provided invaluable help in medical care, science and technology, education, agriculture, combating climate change and social development, which helped further consolidate the relationship between the two nations, Liburd said.
Tsai said that she witnessed the fruitful results of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, education and healthcare when she visited the nation in 2019, adding that she hoped the two sides could continue deepening ties in the post-pandemic era.
She also thanked Saint Kitts and Nevis for speaking up for Taiwan at international occasions and supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
Meanwhile, visiting Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya said that the saying “a friend in need is a friend indeed” embodies the relations between Taiwan and Japan.
The importance of democratic values as well as peace across the Taiwan Strait underscored by Tsai in her National Day speech is a message that should be delivered to the world, Furuya said.
The Taiwan Strait has become a hot spot for many high-level politicians and parliamentarians around the globe, Japan included, he said, adding that Taiwan is also one of the favorite travel destinations for Japanese tourists.
As chair of the Japan-ROC [Republic of China] Diet Members’ Consultative Council, Furuya led a delegation comprising nearly 50 council members to Taiwan to participate in the National Day celebrations as well as celebrate the council’s 50th anniversary.
PATROL PARTNERS: The ‘Chiayi’ and the ‘Penghu’ departed for a two-day joint patrol of Palau’s exclusive economic zone, the CGA’s second diplomatic visit to the country The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) set a record for its southernmost deployment of a coast guard vessel as the vessels Chiayi and the Penghu reached Palau’s Pulo Anna Island on Saturday in a cooperative exercise between the two countries. The island, about 217 nautical miles (401km) southwest of Koror in the Palauan state of Sonsorol and 1,220 nautical miles from Taiwan’s southernmost point, Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), is the furthest south a CGA vessel has sailed. The two vessels are in Palau for the coast guard’s second diplomatic visit to the country. They docked at Malakal Harbor on Tuesday last week. The coast guard
BATCH 1: The military has plans to assign the weapons to the army to defend Taiwan proper, as well as outlying islands and the navy for the Marine Corps, the official said Taiwan is to receive 500 Stinger missiles and 178 launchers from the US by the end of the year, the first batch under a planned two-stage acquisition totaling 2,621 missiles and 763 launchers, a defense official said yesterday on condition of anonymity. The portable missiles would play a vital role in the nation’s air defense capabilities, the source said. The army plans to deploy 2,235 missiles and 657 launchers to defend Taiwan proper and outlying islands, they said, citing military documents. The navy is allotted 295 missiles and 85 launchers to arm the Marine Corps and some surface vessels that lack air defense
The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a recommendation on EU-China political relations that rejected China’s efforts to restrict Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and exchanges. The recommendation, addressed to the European Council, the European Commission and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, includes several references to EU-Taiwan relations and expresses support for closer ties, saying they would bring positive benefits and have strategic importance. Describing Taiwan as a valuable partner in trade and technology, the European Parliament said it “rejects China’s attempts to coerce international organizations, third countries and other actors into restricting Taiwan’s international participation and
‘EQUALS’: The ROC and PRC are not subordinate to each other, which is the consensus among Taiwanese, who are the only ones who can decide Taiwan’s future, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday urged China to stop its hostile rhetoric toward Taiwan as the US welcomed President William Lai’s (賴清德) commitment to Taiwan Strait stability in his Double Ten National Day speech. Lai on Saturday described Taiwan as a “city upon a hill” and said that “Taiwan cherishes peace, but we will not give up our freedom. We are open to exchanges, but will not accept subordination.” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai’s speech “disregards facts, distorts the truth, misleads the public and reveals ulterior motives.” Taiwan is part of China and Taiwan’s future “can and must be decided jointly by all the
RSS