Members of the international community on Saturday congratulated President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on her re-election.
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono said Japan hoped to maintain its pragmatic relations with Taiwan and bolster bilateral cooperation, as Japan and Taiwan share common basic values and enjoy a close economic relationship.
He urged parties involved in the “Taiwan issue” to resolve their differences through “peaceful direct dialogue” and to promote peace and stability in the region.
The European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group said in a statement that the smooth and successful election once again testified to the strength of Taiwan’s vibrant democracy and showed the determination of Taiwanese to uphold their democratic way of life, free from foreign intimidation and interference.
European External Action Service spokesperson Virginie Battu-Henriksson congratulated Taiwan for its high voter turnout, which was about 75 percent.
“Our respective systems of governance are founded on a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” she said in a statement, adding that the EU closely follows cross-strait developments and encourages dialogue and constructive engagement between Taiwan and China.
British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Dominic Raab said that the elections were a “testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy,” and he expressed hope that Taiwan and China would renew dialogue to resolve their differences.
Meanwhile, US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Rene Clarke Cooper said on Twitter that “the free and fair elections in #Taiwan is #democracy in action.”
He also retweeted US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s congratulatory statement, in which Pompeo praised Taiwan for having once again demonstrated the strength of its robust democratic system.
Former US vice president Joe Biden called for stronger ties with Taiwan in a tweet congratulating Tsai’s on her victory.
“Congratulations to President Tsai and the people of Taiwan for another successful election,” wrote Biden. “You are stronger because of your free and open society.”
US Senator Cory Gardner, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, extended his “warmest congratulations,” while US Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, via the committee’s Twitter account, congratulated Tsai, and Taiwanese on another successful democratic election.
US representatives Steve Chabot, Albio Sires, Mario Diaz-Balart and Gerald Connolly, co-chairs of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus, said the elections “demonstrate once again that democracy manifests the will of the people in a way that promotes peace, freedom and prosperity.”
They vowed to work with Tsai’s administration to improve Taiwan-US relations.
AGING: While Japan has 22 submarines, Taiwan only operates four, two of which were commissioned by the US in 1945 and 1946, and transferred to Taiwan in 1973 Taiwan would need at least 12 submarines to reach modern fleet capabilities, CSBC Corp, Taiwan chairman Chen Cheng-hung (陳政宏) said in an interview broadcast on Friday, citing a US assessment. CSBC is testing the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, the Hai Kun (海鯤, Narwhal), which is scheduled to be delivered to the navy next month or in July. The Hai Kun has completed torpedo-firing tests and is scheduled to undergo overnight sea trials, Chen said on an SET TV military affairs program. Taiwan would require at least 12 submarines to establish a modern submarine force after assessing the nation’s operational environment and defense
Yangmingshan National Park authorities yesterday urged visitors to respect public spaces and obey the law after a couple was caught on a camera livestream having sex at the park’s Qingtiangang (擎天崗) earlier in the day. The Shilin Police Precinct in Taipei said it has identified a suspect and his vehicle registration number, and would summon him for questioning. The case would be handled in accordance with public indecency charges, it added. The couple entered the park at about 11pm on Thursday and began fooling around by 1am yesterday, the police said, adding that the two were unaware of the park’s all-day live
The coast guard today said that it had disrupted "illegal" operations by a Chinese research ship in waters close to the nation and driven it away, part of what Taipei sees a provocative pattern of China's stepped up maritime activities. The coast guard said that it on Thursday last week detected the Chinese ship Tongji (同濟號), which was commissioned only last year, 29 nautical miles (54km) southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan, although just outside restricted waters. The ship was observed lowering ropes into the water, suspected to be the deployment of scientific instruments for "illegal" survey operations, and the coast
A former soldier and an active-duty army officer were yesterday indicted for allegedly selling classified military training materials to a Chinese intelligence operative for a total of NT$79,440. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Chen Tai-yin (陳泰尹) and Lee Chun-ta (李俊達) for contravening the National Security Act (國家安全法) and the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例). Chen left the military in September 2013 after serving alongside then-staff sergeant Lee, now an army lieutenant, at the 21st Artillery Command of the army’s Sixth Corps from 2011 to 2013, according to the indictment. Chen met a Chinese intelligence operative identified as “Wang” (王) through a friend in November
RSS