The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received information on a possible visit by Donald Trump Jr, but it “sincerely welcomes” any US official or member of the US Congress that would show the importance Washington places on Taiwan-US relations and the unveiling of the new American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) compound, ministry spokesman Andrew Lee (李憲章) said yesterday.
Trump Jr is US President Donald Trump’s eldest son and serves as executive director of the trust that has owned the Trump Organization since his father took office.
Citing an unnamed source, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on Tuesday reported that Trump Jr is among the candidates to represent the US at the Tuesday dedication ceremony, as he does not hold public office, but is a person of significance.
Photo: Lu Yi-hsuan, Taipei Times
Washington would not send Cabinet-level officials to the event out of concern that such a move would provoke China, which could result in Beijing’s expulsion of the US ambassador to China, the report said.
Media have speculated about how Washington would mark the facility’s unveiling, which is widely perceived as a milestone in Taiwan-US relations.
It has been rumored that Washington would send US national security adviser John Bolton, who has long held pro-Taiwan views.
However, as the unveiling coincides with the highly anticipated summit in Singapore between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, some have predicted that the US would not send any high-ranking officials.
Citing a foreign affairs official in Washington, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Liberty Times (sister newspaper of the Taipei Times) on Wednesday reported that the US might send an assistant secretary of state to attend the ceremony, with US Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce being the likely representative.
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
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