A visiting delegation in Taipei yesterday said that support for Taiwan is a consensus across party lines in the US, and that the Taiwan Strait is vital for regional and international peace.
The delegation, led by US Representative Debbi Lesko, included US representatives Andy Biggs and Carol Miller, and made the remarks in a meeting with National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) at the Presidential Office.
Wu thanked the US lawmakers for their visit and said that he hoped Washington would continue to advocate for Taiwan.
Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office
Exchanges between Taiwan and the US would continue under the US’ Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, which demonstrates bipartisan support for the country, Wu said.
The US executive branch has reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait through its joint statements with fellow G7 countries and bilateral statements with friendly countries, Wu added.
US support not only enhances international awareness of Taiwan’s strategic importance, but also increases the nation’s regional role, he said.
Criticizing China’s use of “gray zone” tactics, such as cognitive and legal warfare to harass Taiwan, including its misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758, Wu said that it does not contribute to cross-strait peace and limits Taipei’s engagement with the international community.
There are still many important fields of cooperation between Taiwan and the US, such as the double-taxation agreement, building resilient democracies and deepening economic ties, Wu said.
Taiwan is a key US partner in the region, and it remains committed to peace and stability, and looks forward to continued US support, he added.
The US lawmakers said they were honored to visit Taiwan, having long paid attention to the geopolitical situation in the region and China’s repeated incursions into Taiwan’s territory.
China’s illegal intrusions are no longer limited to the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing’s actions in the East and South China seas have also received global criticism for not abiding by international law, they said.
Washington should work with allies and like-minded countries to stop these actions, they said.
There is bipartisan consensus on the need to continue supporting Taiwan, they said, adding that upon their return to the US, they would continue to speak out in support of strengthening the nation’s defensive capabilities, and contributing to trade and economic relations.
The delegation, visiting Taiwan from Sunday until Friday, is also to attend the Double Ten National Day celebrations in Taipei.
Eight restaurants in Taiwan yesterday secured a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide Taiwan for the first time, while three one-star restaurants from last year’s edition were promoted to two stars. Forty-three restaurants were awarded one star this year, including 34 in Taipei, five in Taichung and four in Kaohsiung. Hosu (好嶼), Chuan Ya (川雅), Sushi Kajin (鮨嘉仁), aMaze (心宴), La Vie by Thomas Buhner, Yuan Yi (元一) and Frassi in Taipei and Front House (方蒔) in Kaohsiung received a one-star rating for the first time. Hosu is known for innovative Taiwanese dishes, while Chuan Ya serves Sichuan cuisine and aMaze specializes
Taitung County is to launch charter flights to Malaysia at the end of this year, after setting up flights to Vietnam and Thailand, the Taitung County Government said yesterday. The new charter flight services, provided by low-cost carrier Batik Air Malaysia, would be part of five-day tour packages for visits to Taitung County or Malaysia. The Batik Air charter flight, with about 200 seats, would take Malaysian tourists to Taitung on Dec. 30 and then at 12:35pm return to Kuala Lumpur with Taiwanese tourists. Another charter flight would bring the Taiwanese home on Jan. 3 next year, arriving at 5:30pm, before taking the
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) plans to ease strained capacity during peak hours by introducing new fare rules restricting passengers traveling without reserved seats in 2026, company Chairman Shih Che (史哲) said Wednesday. THSRC needs to tackle its capacity issue because there have been several occasions where passengers holding tickets with reserved seats did not make it onto their train in stations packed with individuals traveling without a reserved seat, Shih told reporters in a joint interview in Taipei. Non-reserved seats allow travelers maximum flexibility, but it has led to issues relating to quality of service and safety concerns, especially during
An exhibition celebrating Taiwan and Japan’s comic culture opened on Saturday in Taichung, featuring a section that explores Taiwanese reproductions of Japanese comics from when martial law limited Japanese representation. “A Century of Manga Culture: An Encounter of Taiwan and Japan’s Youth” held its Taiwan opening ceremony at Taichung’s National Taiwan Museum of Comics after an initial one-month run in Japan’s Kyoto International Manga Museum between May 24 and June 24. Much like the Kyoto exhibition, the show mainly celebrates the comic connection between Taiwan and Japan through late Taiwanese comic book