President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday reiterated her determination to join the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the second round of negotiations, but remained silent on speculation that her administration’s approval of Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun’s (沈呂巡) resignation was due to a plan to make a transit stop in the US on her visit to Panama next month.
Tsai made the remarks at a meeting with US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific chairman Matt Salmon and US Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson at the Presidential Office Building yesterday morning.
“Trade ties between our two nations have been extremely close. Taiwan was listed as the US’ ninth-biggest trading partner last year, while Washington was Taipei’s second-largest trading partner,” Tsai said.
The government plans to seek membership in the TPP in the second round of negotiations, Tsai said, asking for the support of members of the US Congress.
Taiwan has repeatedly expressed its desire to enter the TPP, but the nation’s reluctance to open its door to imports of US pork containing residue of the leanness-enhancing additive ractopamine has raised doubts about its determination to ease import restrictions.
Tsai’s administration has been perceived as leaning toward easing the import ban, particularly after Minister of Agriculture Tsao Chi-hung’s (曹啟鴻) remarks last month that Taiwan does not have the leverage to refuse imports of US pork containing ractopamine.
Earlier yesterday, when on her way to cast a ballot in New Taipei City in an election for the cadres of the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) local branches, Tsai declined to respond to questions regarding the reasons behind what some consider was the swift approval of Shen’s resignation.
It is reported that the move was prompted by Tsai’s alleged plan to make transit stops in Miami and Los Angles during her trip to Panama, which has invited her to attend the inauguration ceremony for the expanded Panama Canal next month.
According to a news release issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US on Saturday, Shen on April 15 tendered his resignation and applied for retirement as the scheduled government transition approached, but then-president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) did not approve his resignation.
“Shen originally thought there would be ample time left for him to bid a proper farewell to his associates after the new government approved his resignation, but he was ordered to leave his post early next month,” the office said.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Eleanor Wang (王珮玲) yesterday said that as the upcoming ceremony is an important event held by one of Taiwan’s most significant diplomatic allies, the ministry suggested that Tsai accept the invitation.
“Once the ministry receives instructions from the president, we make an all-out effort to lay out and execute plans for her international trips,” Wang said, adding that the planning process would not start without the president’s orders.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old