President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said he hoped to further develop relations with countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, an apparent deviation from his previous proposal of a “diplomatic truce” with Beijing.
Ma made the remarks yesterday morning while receiving Hungarian Congressman Jeno Lasztovicza at the Presidential Office.
Ma told the delegation — the largest of its kind since Hungary’s representative office was established in Taiwan in 1990 — that his foreign policy would be different from that of the previous administration.
“On the one hand, we will strengthen friendships with our diplomatic allies. On the other, we will cherish friendly and cooperative relations with countries that do not have diplomatic relations with us,” he said. “As both sides of the Taiwan Strait improve their relations, we hope to further develop ties with non-diplomatic allies.”
In line with Ma’s “diplomatic truce” with Beijing, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou (歐鴻鍊) had previously said that Taiwan would concentrate more on cementing ties with existing allies rather than seeking to make new friends.
Taiwan’s relations with Hungary reached a low point in 2002 when Beijing lodged a protest after then vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) visited Hungary and boasted about a diplomatic breakthrough.
Ma yesterday expressed appreciation that members of the Taiwan Friendship Group at the Hungarian parliament had grown over the years, from 20 to 30 members.
Ma said there was much room for growth in bilateral trade with Hungary. As Taiwan had a trade surplus, Ma said he hoped his country would buy more goods from Hungary to balance the trade inequality.
As EU investment in Taiwan was more than that of the US and Japan, Ma said the country would continue to strengthen its relationships with its EU partners.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
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The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
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