Dear compatriots, At the occasion of the 2002 Dynasty celebration I once more want to share with all you my best wishes to the royal family of Belgium. The meaning of a dynastic celebration is, as was reminded last Friday in presence of the royal family during the Te Deum in Brussels and as was also later echoed at the official reception in the Belgian Senate, that royalty probably is in a democratic federal and Kingdom the best example of combined perennial power and responsibility.
Similarly, whatever our position or responsibilities are in this society, I personally feel privileged for sharing the many values of our host country. Similarly I will continue to share, whenever possible, our own cultural dignity with that of our host country, Taiwan.
As Belgians living in Taiwan, we probably more than others appreciate and better understand the values of the multi-cultural, multi-language environment that became ours over the years. Most of us, I am sure, have gained much from the enrichment that living in the midst of another nation is bringing to our everyday lives.
As member of the Belgian community in Taiwan, I would want to continue to know all of you personally and whenever possible or necessary assist you in accomplishing your duty of citizen.
Our Taiwanese friends are even more than others sensitive to the meaning of identity. As Taiwan and Belgium are close equal in size, I feel that the national diversity that for centuries we have shared within our national space and that also will be shared more than ever before within our newly expanded European House will make the experience of the Belgian house even more valuable.
Since the time that the Romans brought us our laws with our sense for local freedom and justice we have gained an invaluable experience in sharing other European cultures on our own national soil. This made us Belgians prone for the unprejudiced assimilation of other values allowing us to find great satisfaction to be here.
May the Royal Celebration also be an occasion to remind us how much we can assist newcomers. Having been given already the opportunity to meet many of you personally, I have felt your eagerness to better integrate, to enrich yourself with what is offered, but also to share and meet the expectations from our hosts. I am sure that these efforts will continue to be gratifying for you, your friends and your families.
May I wish you also happy season's greetings at the beginning of this festive period.
‘UPHOLDING PEACE’: Taiwan’s foreign minister thanked the US Congress for using a ‘creative and effective way’ to deter Chinese military aggression toward the nation The US House of Representatives on Monday passed the Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act, aimed at deterring Chinese aggression toward Taiwan by threatening to publish information about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials’ “illicit” financial assets if Beijing were to attack. The act would also “restrict financial services for certain immediate family of such officials,” the text of the legislation says. The bill was introduced in January last year by US representatives French Hill and Brad Sherman. After remarks from several members, it passed unanimously. “If China chooses to attack the free people of Taiwan, [the bill] requires the Treasury secretary to publish the illicit
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
A senior US military official yesterday warned his Chinese counterpart against Beijing’s “dangerous” moves in the South China Sea during the first talks of their kind between the commanders. Washington and Beijing remain at odds on issues from trade to the status of Taiwan and China’s increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, but they have sought to re-establish regular military-to-military talks in a bid to prevent flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control. Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, and Wu Yanan (吳亞男), head of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, talked via videoconference. Paparo “underscored the importance
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
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