The US has seen “no indication” that the situation in Taiwan warrants a review of its policy of not evacuating private US citizens from areas of conflict, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Monday, but did not disclose whether it was preparing for such a contingency.
The Messenger news site reported that the US government was drawing up evacuation plans for US citizens living in Taiwan, citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter.
One of the sources, identified as a senior US intelligence official, told the Web site that planning had been under way for at least six months, but had “heated up” over the past two months.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Another source said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has served as an impetus for the planning, by driving a “relook” at what plans are in place.
Asked about the report at a news conference, Kirby said it was not routine US policy to evacuate private US citizens from areas of conflict.
“And there is no indication at this time that current conditions in Taiwan would warrant any reconsideration of that policy,” he said.
Kirby said the US takes seriously its responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens and personnel abroad, and has “routine procedures in place to make sure that we’re prepared for any type of emergency.”
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington said the issue of evacuation planning first came up in March, when Taiwanese media reported about a text message sent to US citizens in Taiwan by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
The AIT at the time said the message was sent after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake and its aftershocks caused widespread damage in Turkey and Syria, to remind US citizens to prepare for any kind of potential disaster.
The Feb. 10 message, which is available on the AIT’s Web site, reminded US citizens that Taiwan is in a “region prone to disasters,” and encouraged them to enroll in the US Department of State registry for citizens living abroad and to have a “go-bag” ready in case of an emergency.
GOOD DIPLOMACY: The KMT has maintained close contact with representative offices in Taiwan and had extended an invitation to Russia as well, the KMT said The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would “appropriately handle” the fallout from an invitation it had extended to Russia’s representative to Taipei to attend its international banquet last month, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday. US and EU representatives in Taiwan boycotted the event, and only later agreed to attend after the KMT rescinded its invitation to the Russian representative. The KMT has maintained long-term close contact with all representative offices and embassies in Taiwan, and had extended the invitation as a practice of good diplomacy, Chu said. “Some EU countries have expressed their opinions of Russia, and the KMT respects that,” he
An increase in Taiwanese boats using China-made automatic identification systems (AIS) could confuse coast guards patrolling waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast and become a loophole in the national security system, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday. Taiwan ADIZ, a Facebook page created by enthusiasts who monitor Chinese military activities in airspace and waters off Taiwan’s southwest coast, on Saturday identified what seemed to be a Chinese cargo container ship near Penghu County. The Coast Guard Administration went to the location after receiving the tip and found that it was a Taiwanese yacht, which had a Chinese AIS installed. Similar instances had also
VIGILANCE: The military is paying close attention to actions that might damage peace and stability in the region, the deputy minister of national defense said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) might consider initiating a hack on Taiwanese networks on May 20, the day of the inauguration ceremony of president-elect William Lai (賴清德), sources familiar with cross-strait issues said. While US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s statement of the US expectation “that all sides will conduct themselves with restraint and prudence in the period ahead” would prevent military actions by China, Beijing could still try to sabotage Taiwan’s inauguration ceremony, the source said. China might gain access to the video screens outside of the Presidential Office Building and display embarrassing messages from Beijing, such as congratulating Lai
Four China Coast Guard ships briefly sailed through prohibited waters near Kinmen County, Taipei said, urging Beijing to stop actions that endanger navigation safety. The Chinese ships entered waters south of Kinmen, 5km from the Chinese city of Xiamen, at about 3:30pm on Monday, the Coast Guard Administration said in a statement later the same day. The ships “sailed out of our prohibited and restricted waters” about an hour later, the agency said, urging Beijing to immediately stop “behavior that endangers navigation safety.” Ministry of National Defense spokesman Sun Li-fang (孫立方) yesterday told reporters that Taiwan would boost support to the Coast Guard