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.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
HORROR STORIES: One victim recounted not realizing they had been stabbed and seeing people bleeding, while another recalled breaking down in tears after fleeing A man on Friday died after he tried to fight the knife-wielding suspect who went on a stabbing spree near two of Taipei’s busiest metro stations, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. The 57-year-old man, identified by his family name, Yu (余), encountered the suspect at Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station and immediately tried to stop him, but was fatally wounded and later died, Chiang said, calling the incident “heartbreaking.” Yu’s family would receive at least NT$5 million (US$158,584) in compensation through the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp’s (TRTC) insurance coverage, he said after convening an emergency security response meeting yesterday morning. National
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