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.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
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