The government has helped 20 Taiwanese leave Israel and three leave Iran amid the conflict in the region, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said today.
The ministry is in close contact with Taiwanese nationals in the region, Lin said, adding that there are 270 Taiwanese in Israel and nine in Iran.
Twenty Taiwanese left Israel by land for Jordan in three batches starting on Sunday, while three Taiwanese left Iran by land and arrived in Turkey, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday.
Photo: CNA
One of the Taiwanese who left Iran, Kang Cheng-hsuan (康承暄), said that she traveled from Isfahan, a southern city in Iran, to Tehran on Sunday.
Kang said she saw thousands of people trying to get bus tickets to leave the capital amid the sound of explosions and people screaming.
She crossed the border into Turkey on Monday night and took a bus to Istanbul, which was stopped at two military checkpoints along the way, Kang said, adding that she would fly to Thailand from Turkey today and hopefully return to Taiwan in the next few days.
The ministry again urged people not to travel to the region.
Asked if Taiwanese in Iran have sought help from China, Lin said that the ministry is in contact with citizens overseas.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Tel Aviv is operating in accordance with the Israeli government’s instruction, Lin said.
Staffers are working from home according to operating procedures, he said, adding that they would work in the office if necessary.
The government is paying close attention to oil and commodity prices, which could fluctuate as the situation intensifies, he said.
President William Lai (賴清德) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) have held meetings about the conflict, Lin said.
High-ranking national security officials have made plans to cope with the situation, he said, adding that they would be announced soon.
In a routine security briefing earlier this week, Lai instructed the national security team and the administration to fully prepare and remain alert to the situation in terms of safety, international relations, and potential political and economic risks, Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said.
Lai also directed the Executive Yuan to ensure a stable supply of daily goods and monitor the prices of raw materials, energy and consumer goods, Kuo said.
The government is fully aware of the changes in the geopolitical situation and is in close contact with allies to safeguard the nation’s interests and ensure people’s safety, she added.
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