British Representative to Taiwan John Dennis yesterday planted a tree in Taipei to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and Arbor Day, saying that it symbolized Taiwan and the UK’s friendship.
The queen and Prince Charles last year launched the Queen’s Green Canopy program to plant trees in honor of the jubilee, which coincides with Arbor Day, Dennis said in Mandarin at the event held jointly by his office and the Taipei City Government at the Yuanshan Scenic Area.
The queen is an advocate for planting trees as part of environmental conservation, having planted about 1,500 trees worldwide, he said.
Photo: CNA
The Chinese ash is one of the most numerous and iconic British trees and makes a fitting symbol for the friendship between Taiwan and the UK, he said, adding that Taiwan and the UK are united by common values and a commitment to be a force for good in the world.
Taipei Commissioner for External Affairs Tom Chou (周台竹) said that the UK is an important partner to Taiwan and a popular destination for Taiwanese studying abroad, adding that the planting of the tree represented the bilateral friendship.
Regarding Taiwan-UK ties, Dennis said that they should work toward deepening economic cooperation, especially in financial technology, pharmaceuticals and wind energy, while he anticipates an expansion of ties after the easing of COVID-19 measures.
Last month’s cancelation of a visit by a delegation of British lawmakers due to the COVID-19 pandemic is a temporary setback, and the lawmakers have expressed their wish for the exchange to resume later, he added.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Dennis said the situation is a humanitarian tragedy and called the Russian invasion “a blatant contravention of international laws, international customs and the UN Charter.”
The UK is glad to see the rush of support from Taiwan to Ukraine, particularly in sending humanitarian aid, he said, adding that Britain is committed to alleviating the humanitarian crisis caused by the war and empowering Ukrainian resistance.
“This difficult time calls for the world’s democracies to unite in solidarity,” he said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Many Japanese couples are coming to Taiwan to obtain donated sperm or eggs for fertility treatment due to conservatism in their home country, Taiwan’s high standards and low costs, doctors said. One in every six couples in Japan is receiving infertility treatment, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare data show. About 70,000 children are born in Japan every year through in vitro fertilization (IVF), or about one in every 11 children born. Few people accept donated reproductive cells in Japan due to a lack of clear regulations, leaving treatment in a “gray zone,” Taichung Nuwa Fertility Center medical director Wang Huai-ling (王懷麟)
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