Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) and US Representative Michelle Steel yesterday discussed in a teleconference the US’ proposed “Taiwan democracy defense lend-lease act” and further economic collaborations between the two countries.
Ker said that Steel is a long-time supporter of Taiwan and has often urged the administration of US President Joe Biden to guarantee Taiwan’s safety, and praised Taiwan’s COVID-19 pandemic prevention efforts.
The bill, cosponsored by Steel along with US senators Marsha Blackburn and Rick Scott, would authorize the expedited lending or leasing of defense equipment to Taiwan.
Photo: screen grab from Ker Chien-ming’s Facebook account
In addition, the bill would allow the US to send weapons to Taiwan with a proposed 12-year window for repayment for their lending or leasing.
Taiwan thanked Steel and the two other lawmakers for supporting Taiwan, and for stepping outside the traditional “box” of arms sale packages to propose an innovative and meaningful bill, Ker said.
Current arms package processes are extremely complex, and the bill could bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, Ker said, adding that he hoped the bill is supported in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Steel said she hoped the bill could clear Congress soon, adding that she had asked Biden in writing to authorize the Taiwan arms sales package quickly.
Ker told Steel during the call that, faced with Chinese aggression, Taiwan does not seek to escalate the situation nor provoke Beijing.
Still, Taiwan will not back away from defending itself, Ker said, adding: “The Taiwanese people have the confidence and the courage to defend our autonomy,” he added.
Ker and Steel also discussed increased opportunities to collaborate economically.
Steel voiced strong support for signing a US-Taiwan free-trade pact and Taiwan’s inclusion in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Ker thanked Steel for her support and said that Taiwan’s strengths in its economy, trade, science research and development, and industry allow it to contribute to world affairs.
He also asked Steel to call for the US to support Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations.
Taiwan is to have nine extended holidays next year, led by a nine-day Lunar New Year break, the Cabinet announced yesterday. The nine-day Lunar New Year holiday next year matches the length of this year’s holiday, which featured six extended holidays. The increase in extended holidays is due to the Act on the Implementation of Commemorative and Festival Holidays (紀念日及節日實施條例), which was passed early last month with support from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party. Under the new act, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve is also a national holiday, and Labor Day would no longer be limited
Taiwan is to extend its visa-waiver program for Philippine passport holders for another year, starting on Aug. 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said on Friday. Lin made the announcement during a reception in Taipei marking the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The decision reflected Taiwan’s commitment to deepening exchanges with the Philippines, the statement cited Lin as saying, adding that it was a key partner under the New Southbound Policy launched in 2016. Lin also expressed hope
Costa Rica sent a group of intelligence officials to Taiwan for a short-term training program, the first time the Central American country has done so since the countries ended official diplomatic relations in 2007, a Costa Rican media outlet reported last week. Five officials from the Costa Rican Directorate of Intelligence and Security last month spent 23 days in Taipei undergoing a series of training sessions focused on national security, La Nacion reported on Friday, quoting unnamed sources. The Costa Rican government has not confirmed the report. The Chinese embassy in Costa Rica protested the news, saying in a statement issued the same
Temperatures in New Taipei City’s Sindian District (新店) climbed past 37°C yesterday, as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) issued heat alerts for 16 municipalities, warning the public of intense heat expected across Taiwan. The hottest location in Taiwan was in Sindian, where the mercury reached 37.5°C at about 2pm, according to CWA data. Taipei’s Shilin District (士林) recorded a temperature of 37.4°C at noon, Taitung County’s Jinfeng Township (金峰) at 12:50 pm logged a temperature of 37.4°C and Miaoli County’s Toufen Township (頭份) reached 36.7°C at 11:40am, the CWA said. The weather agency yesterday issued a yellow level information notice for Taipei, New
RSS