The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday welcomed delegations and foreign dignitaries set to attend Double Ten National Day celebrations in Taipei this week, adding that the visits highlighted their support for Taiwan and cross-strait peace and stability.
The guests include a delegation of three US lawmakers, and top officials from allies in Latin America and the Caribbean, the ministry said in a news release.
The US delegation, which arrived yesterday, is led by US Representative Debbie Lesko, who is accompanied by US representatives Andy Biggs and Carol Miller. They are to stay until Friday.
Photo: CNA
“The delegation visiting Taiwan during National Day has significant meaning,” MOFA said. “Their visit demonstrates the US Congress’ firm support for Taiwan and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Lesko visited Taiwan in 2016, while the other two members are visiting for the first time, it said.
All three of them have been friendly to Taiwan, signing bills and petitions to support Taiwanese and the nation’s democracy, it said.
The delegation has taken concrete action to support Taiwan, which faces an aggressive China that uses “gray zone” tactics to provoke and harass its neighbors, threatens the “status quo” in the Strait, and frequently limits Taiwan’s international participation, it said.
“Taiwan will continue to work hand in hand with US friends across all sectors to further deepen the values-based Taiwan-US partnership, and promote regional peace, stability and prosperity,” it said.
Belizean Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel, Saint Lucian Senate President Alvina Reynolds, Saint Lucian House of Assembly Speaker Claudius Francis and Guatemalan first lady Lucrecia Peinado are to arrive between today and Wednesday.
The ministry said it has arranged for the dignitaries to visit ministries to exchange opinions on semiconductor development, public health and medicine, social welfare, and cultural and creative industries, and for Taiwan to share its experiences and achievements in the fields.
Taiwan would build on the solid foundation of its relationship with diplomatic allies to deepen ties and improve the well-being of each other’s people, it said.
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off Yilan at 11:05pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The epicenter was located at sea, about 32.3km east of Yilan County Hall, at a depth of 72.8km, CWA data showed There were no immediate reports of damage. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Yilan County area on Taiwan’s seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. It measured 4 in other parts of eastern, northern and central Taiwan as well as Tainan, and 3 in Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, and 2 in Lienchiang and Penghu counties and 1
‘POLITICAL GAME’: DPP lawmakers said the motion would not meet the legislative threshold needed, and accused the KMT and the TPP of trivializing the Constitution The Legislative Yuan yesterday approved a motion to initiate impeachment proceedings against President William Lai (賴清德), saying he had undermined Taiwan’s constitutional order and democracy. The motion was approved 61-50 by lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), who together hold a legislative majority. Under the motion, a roll call vote for impeachment would be held on May 19 next year, after various hearings are held and Lai is given the chance to defend himself. The move came after Lai on Monday last week did not promulgate an amendment passed by the legislature that
RSS