FOREIGN AFFAIRS
US backs Taipei in dispute
The US Department of State on Wednesday said it encourages countries to “expand engagement” with Taiwan, as Taipei faces an approaching deadline from South Africa to move its representative office out of Pretoria due to Chinese pressure. Asked about the office dispute, a department spokesperson referred reporters to Taipei and Pretoria for comment. “But I want to emphasize that we encourage all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan,” the official said. “Taiwan is a reliable, like-minded and democratic partner, and its partnerships around the world provide significant and sustainable benefits to the citizens of those countries.”
DIPLOMACY
Lin on first diplomatic trip
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Wednesday embarked on a trip to the nation’s allies in Latin America and the Caribbean — his first since assuming the post on May 20. President William Lai (賴清德) appointed Lin as a special envoy to represent the government at celebrations to mark the 45th Independence Day of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where he is expected to meet with Governor-General Susan Dougan and Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs news release said. Lin is also to visit Guatemala, Saint Lucia, Belize, and Saint Kitts and Nevis before returning on Saturday next week. Lin is to promote a plan aimed at strengthening ties with “solid partners” to help them become “prosperous partners,” leading to enhanced mutual prosperity, the ministry said.
DEFENSE
Navy receives new vessel
The navy on Wednesday took delivery of a rescue and salvage ship that is set to be the first vessel of its class, a source with knowledge of the matter said. The Da Wu, contracted under the navy’s An Hai Project, took project contractor CSBC Corp three years to build and is set to be the first of several “Da Wu” class ships to replace the nation’s aging fleet of search-and-rescue vessels, the source said. The Da Wu, as well as its technical data sheets and maintenance manuals, were handed over to the navy on Wednesday morning, the source said, without disclosing where the ceremony was held. The navy would now begin training in preparation for the ship to be officially commissioned, the source added. The new class of vessels is 87m long and 15.5m at its widest point, the source said. The first ship in the class has a displacement of 3,250 tonnes and a maximum speed of 18 knots when fully loaded. It is equipped with a diving bell that can reach depths of 100m and a remotely operated underwater vehicle with a dive limit of 500m, which should bolster the navy’s rescue and salvage capacity. In addition to rescuing and salvaging navy ships, the ship is expected to undertake towing missions, double as a floating dock or offshore platform and help with humanitarian rescue missions involving civilian ships, the navy said.
DIPLOMACY
Envoy to Indonesia tapped
Bruce Hung (洪振榮), former head of Taiwan’s representative office in Brisbane, Australia, has been appointed the nation’s new envoy to Indonesia. Hung, who has led the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of General Affairs since January 2021, is to replace John Chen (陳忠) at the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Indonesia, a Cabinet announcement on Wednesday said. Chen, who has served as head of the office since December 2016, is believed to have filed for retirement and leave before the end of the year, sources close to the matter said. Hung previously held diplomatic positions in Grenada (2000-2002), Chicago (1996-2000) and Guam (2009-2012), and served as director-general of the Brisbane office from 2017 to 2021. He is a graduate of Tamkang University and received his master’s degree in Translation and Interpretation from Monterey Institute of International Studies in California.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
INDUSTRY: Beijing’s latest export measures go beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related tech, an academic said Taiwanese industries could face significant disruption from China’s newly tightened export controls on rare earth elements, as much of Taiwan’s supply indirectly depends on Chinese materials processed in Japan, a local expert said yesterday. Kristy Hsu (徐遵慈), director of the Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said that China’s latest export measures go far beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related technologies. With Japan and Southeast Asian countries among those expected to be hit, Taiwan could feel the impact through its reliance on Japanese-made semi-finished products and
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