The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today criticized Iran’s “indiscriminate” military attacks and expressed support for international efforts to assist Iranians in pursuing freedom and democracy.
As an ally of the US and Israel, Taiwan condemns Iran’s “indiscriminate” attacks against other nations, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) told reporters before attending an interpellation session at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei today.
While the government has no plans to evacuate Taiwanese from the Middle East, the ministry would provide assistance to any nationals wishing to leave by land, he said.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
Two Taiwanese have already departed Israel overland, traveling to Jordan, he said.
With the assistance of Taiwan's representative office in Israel, they have safely arrived in Jordan, Ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) told a regular news conference in Taipei.
Taiwan's representative office in Jordan would continue to provide assistance with onward travel to a third country or with returning to Israel once the situation stabilizes, he said.
Taiwan’s representative offices have contacted Taiwanese expatriates and travelers in the region one by one to confirm their safety, Wu said.
Most of them believe it is safer to stay where they are, he added.
The Israeli government has also expressed willingness to assist in ensuring the safety of foreign nationals, meaning there are no immediate concerns, he said.
With airspace across parts of the Middle East closed, Taiwanese are advised to remain where they are and wait for flights to resume, as personal safety remains the top priority, he said.
Taiwanese stranded in the region should stay alert, patiently await the reopening of airspace, follow local government safety guidelines and proactively contact Taiwan’s overseas missions so that timely assistance can be arranged, Hsiao said.
In case of an emergency in the Middle East, the ministry urged Taiwanese to call the nearest Taiwanese representative office for assistance or ask their families in Taiwan to contact the ministry’s 24-hour toll-free emergency hotline at +886-800-085-095.
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