World leaders and officials from several governments yesterday expressed solidarity and offered assistance to Taiwan after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the country’s east coast earlier in the day.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida extended his “sincere condolences” to victims of the quake in a post on X, while expressing the hope that “all our friends in Taiwan are safe.”
Kishida highlighted the help Japan had received from “our important friend” Taiwan in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, and the major quake that struck the Noto Peninsula earlier this year.
Photo: screen grab of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s X account
“Now, it’s our island neighbor who is facing difficult circumstances, and Japan is willing to provide Taiwan with any necessary assistance,” Kishida said.
The US “stands ready to provide any necessary assistance,” the White House said.
“We are monitoring reports of the earthquake impacting Taiwan and continue to monitor its potential impact on Japan,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson added in a statement.
American Institute in Taiwan Chair Laura Rosenberger opened a meeting in Taipei with Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) by saying she hoped “everyone will be OK” and that “we will hear good news” as Taiwan’s emergency services continued to help people and assess the damage in Hualien and elsewhere.
“As a close friend of Taiwan, our thoughts are always with the Taiwan people in times like this,” Rosenberger said.
Meanwhile, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement expressing its “sincere condolences” to “Taiwan compatriots” following the earthquake.
The office added that it would continue to closely follow developments in Taiwan and is willing to provide any necessary assistance.
Several of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies also weighed in with expressions of concern and support in the hours after the quake.
In a post on X, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said he wanted to “express our closeness” to the people of the Republic of China following the quake, and offered condolences to each affected family and the government.
“All our solidarity and support to the government and people of the sister Republic of China (Taiwan) in this difficult moment. Today more than ever we ratify our support,” Paraguayan President Santiago Pena wrote.
Elsewhere, British Columbia Premier David Eby wrote on social media that his thoughts were with “the people of Taiwan and everyone who has friends and family there.”
“I know all British Columbians stand with the Taiwanese community during this difficult time,” he added.
Additional reporting by AFP
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