Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) departed for Washington yesterday with a delegation of lawmakers to hold meetings on issues including US tariffs.
Chiang, of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), departed Taiwan with lawmakers Chang Chih-lun (張智倫) and Huang Chien-hao (黃健豪) of the KMT and Lin Yi-chun (林憶君) of the smaller opposition Taiwan People’s Party, a release from Chiang’s office said.
Legislators Wang Ting-yu (王定宇), Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) and Ngalim Tiunn (張雅琳) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party would also join the delegation after departing Taiwan today, the statement said.
Photo: Lin Hsin-han, Taipei Times
Chiang said that he had spent more than 20 days meeting with representatives of various industries in Taiwan, listening to their concerns about US tariffs, geopolitical risks and investment needs.
In addition to wishing the government success in its tariff negotiations with the US, Chiang said he also wanted to use the trip to discuss broader opportunities for mutually-beneficial bilateral cooperation, outside of just “Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and semiconductors.”
During their visit to Washington, the legislative delegation is scheduled to meet with US lawmakers, think tanks, companies and US government agencies, the statement said.
Aside from addressing tariff issues, the delegation would also advocate for the passage of a US-Taiwan double taxation relief bill, meet with officials to ensure the timely delivery of US arms purchased by Taiwan and promote broader Taiwan-US defense cooperation, it said.
The lawmakers in the delegation are all members of either the Taiwan-US parliamentary friendship group or the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, it added.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man