A land warning for Super Typhoon Talim, which has developed into a severe storm, was issued by the Central Weather Bureau last night. Forecasters said that Talim, the 13th typhoon reported in the Pacific this year, is expected to bring heavy rains to the whole country, and reminded people in mountainous areas to take disaster prevention measures as soon as possible.
At 8am yesterday, the bureau issued a sea warning to boats sailing in the waters east and southeast of Taiwan and in the Bashi Channel (巴士海峽), where long waves and gusts were observed. At 5pm yesterday, Talim, whose radius is 250km and is centered in the Pacific Ocean 720km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) -- Taiwan's southernmost tip -- is expected to be 180km east of Hualien in eastern Taiwan by 5pm today.
According to Hsieh Ming-chang (
"We predict that the weather in Taiwan will be significantly affected by the typhoon [today and tomorrow]," Hsieh said.
If Talim continues on its current path, it will land in eastern Taiwan today, sweeping north and moving toward Fujian Province in China. However, due to a high pressure front moving northeast of Taiwan, Talim's route might change. But forecasters said heavy rains nationwide would be inevitable, no matter what route the typhoon took.
Talim could bring abundant rainfall to northern Taiwan, forecasters said. The Taipei City Government yesterday urged residents to relocate cars parked along the banks of the Keelung River (
Meanwhile, Premier Frank Hsieh (
"We will be well-prepared for all kinds of situations," the premier said. "However, we will alert the public if there is a need to interrupt regular water supplies."
Hsieh made his remarks yesterday morning, when reporters asked him whether the government could promise constant water supply services and that it carried out all necessary preparations for the typhoon. The premier said that no damage will occur if everybody cooperates.
The premier was surrounded by reporters and was questioned as to whether the drought in Taoyuan after the most recent typhoon would occur again.
According to the Shihmen Reservoir Management Center, a minor flood discharge has been carried out for safety reasons as of yesterday afternoon. The discharge was part of the preparations for the typhoon, because the reservoir is almost full. In the meantime, however, the water in the reservoir has again become muddy, sparking concerns about an interruption of water supplies in Taoyuan County.
ACTION PLAN: Taiwan would expand procurement from the US and encourage more companies to invest in the US to deepen bilateral cooperation, Lai said The government would not impose reciprocal tariffs in retaliation against US levies, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, as he announced five strategies to address the issue, including pledging to increase Taiwanese companies’ investments in the US. Lai has in the past few days met with administrative and national security officials, as well as representatives from various industries, to explore countermeasures after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday last week announced a 32 percent duty on Taiwanese imports. In a video released yesterday evening, Lai said that Taiwan would not retaliate against the US with higher tariffs and Taiwanese companies’ commitments to
‘SPECIAL CHANNEL’: Taipei’s most important tasks are to stabilize industries affected by Trump’s trade tariffs and keep negotiations with Washington open, a source said National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) arrived in the US for talks with US President Donald Trump’s administration, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday. Wu was leading a delegation for a meeting known as the “special channel,” the Financial Times reported earlier. It marked Trump’s first use of the channel since returning to the White House on Jan. 20. Citing a source familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reported that Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) was also a part of the delegation. The visit came days after China concluded war games around Taiwan and amid Trump’s
CHIP EXCEPTION: An official said that an exception for Taiwanese semiconductors would have a limited effect, as most are packaged in third nations before being sold The Executive Yuan yesterday decried US President Donald Trump’s 32 percent tariff on Taiwanese goods announced hours earlier as “unfair,” saying it would lodge a representation with Washington. The Cabinet in a statement described the pledged US tariffs, expected to take effect on Wednesday next week, as “deeply unreasonable” and “highly regrettable.” Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee (李慧芝) said that the government would “lodge a solemn representation” with the US Trade Representative and continue negotiating with Washington to “ensure the interests of our nation and industries.” Trump at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday announced a 10 percent baseline tariff on most goods
HELPING HAND: The steering committee of the National Stabilization Fund is expected to hold a meeting to discuss how and when to utilize the fund to help buffer the sell-off The TAIEX plunged 2,065.87 points, or 9.7 percent, to close at 19,232.35 yesterday, the highest single-day percentage loss on record, as investors braced for US President Donald Trump’s tariffs after an extended holiday weekend. Amid the pessimistic atmosphere, 945 listed companies led by large-cap stocks — including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密) and Largan Precision Co (大立光) — fell by the daily maximum of 10 percent at the close, Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed. The number of listed companies ending limit-down set a new record, the exchange said. The TAIEX plunged by daily maxiumu in just
RSS