Taiwan will continue to do all it can to carry out a pledge to cooperate with the US in the "war against terror," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman said yesterday on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US.
Wang Chien-yeh (
FOREIGN AID
As a peace-loving country, Taiwan has participated in international relief and restoration operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over the years, contributing manpower and supplies for non-combat use, Wang said.
Wang said that as a member of the US Container Security Initiative (CSI) -- a project that was launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and designed to prevent terrorists from using sea containers destined for US ports -- Taiwan has been cooperating with the US on customs cargo container security checks and will continue to implement the anti-terrorism program.
`HIGH-RISK' CARGO
Under the CSI program, US customs inspectors are posted in signatory countries to conduct security checks on "high-risk" cargo destined for the US.
In return, US trade partners who have signed the program enjoy preferential customs clearance treatment in the US, the ministry said.
Speaking on the 23 South Korean Christian volunteers who were taken hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan, Wang said that the incident was an example of why the ministry exercises caution in executing international aid programs and advises civic humanitarian groups such as the Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation when they conduct relief missions in counties where violence is rampant.
Organizing one national referendum and 26 recall elections targeting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators could cost NT$1.62 billion (US$55.38 million), the Central Election Commission said yesterday. The cost of each recall vote ranges from NT$16 million to NT$20 million, while that of a national referendum is NT$1.1 billion, the commission said. Based on the higher estimate of NT$20 million per recall vote, if all 26 confirmed recall votes against KMT legislators are taken into consideration, along with the national referendum on restarting the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, the total could be as much as NT$1.62 billion, it said. The commission previously announced
Restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County are to be included in the Michelin Guide’s review for the first time this year, alongside existing entries from Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, the France-based culinary publication said yesterday. This year’s edition of the Michelin Guide Taiwan is to be unveiled on Aug. 19 in Taipei. In addition to the coveted star ratings, Michelin Taiwan would announce its “Bib Gourmand” selections — a distinction awarded to establishments offering high-quality food at moderate prices — on Aug. 12. This year’s Bib Gourmand list would also feature restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu
A firefighter yesterday died after falling into New Taipei City's Xindian River when a rescue dinghy capsized during a search mission for a man who was later found dead. The New Taipei City Fire Department said that it received a report at 4:12pm that a 50-year-old man, surnamed Chen (陳), had fallen into the river. A 32-year-old firefighter, surnamed Wu (吳), was among the rescuers deployed to look for Chen, the fire department said, adding that he and five other rescue personnel were in the dinghy when it capsized. Wu had no vital signs after being pulled from the water to the
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday welcomed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks that the organization’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners must be deepened to deter potential threats from China and Russia. Rutte on Wednesday in Berlin met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Germany’s accession to NATO. He told a post-meeting news conference that China is rapidly building up its armed forces, and the number of vessels in its navy outnumbers those of the US Navy. “They will have another 100 ships sailing by 2030. They now have 1,000 nuclear warheads,” Rutte said, adding that such
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