Officials from the Ministry of Finance's Kaohsiung Customs Bureau boarded a North Korean freighter yesterday on suspicions that the ship is transporting illicit and dangerous chemical materials.
Customs officials searched the Be Gaehung, which arrived in Kaohsiung Harbor on Thursday from Bangkok, to unload some 2,000 tonnes of aluminum powder.
The search was conducted after officials had been informed by US intelligence authorities that the freighter might be carrying dangerous chemicals which could be used as materials in the production of nuclear weapons.
If any illicit or dangerous chemicals are discovered, the customs bureau said, it will then collaborate with authorities from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to tackle the matter.
The Be Gaehung has already unloaded 2,000 tonnes of aluminum powder and a smaller amount of goods listed as "commodities only for transit" are the target of the inspection, the bureau said.
Customs officials said that harbor authorities are acting cautiously and the bureau will act in accordance with international trade practices if any illicit chemicals are found which may impair the security and safety of the port, the officials said.
According to a report in a Chinese-language newspaper, the 6,500-tonne Be Gaehung is suspected by US intelligence authorities of transporting about 1 tonne of hydrafil, or aluminum hydroxide compound, bound for North Korea.
Hydrafil, widely used in aluminum refining, as an additive, is not dangerous in itself.
However, if combined with other chemicals, it can be processed into alumina which can be used in making the outer shells of missiles and other related materials, according to the report.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS