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.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
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