President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday defended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ handling of his current Central America trip in the wake of the political upheaval in Honduras.
“Both the foreign ministry and national security agencies grasped the overall situation quickly and presented a backup plan after the situation worsened in Honduras,” Ma told reporters on his San Francisco-bound plane on his way to Panama.
Ma’s comments came after opposition lawmakers said the ministry should take responsibility for failing to provide Ma with up-to-date information about the political situation in Honduras and the ouster of Honduran president Manuel Zelaya, who has been exiled in Costa Rica.
Ma and first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) were scheduled to spend two days in Honduras during the trip, which is centered on the inauguration of Panamanian president-elect Ricardo Martinelli today. The Presidential Office announced the Honduran visit was canceled just hours before the presidential delegation left Taipei on Monday.
Ma said ties with Honduras would not be affected by the coup, and he would arrange to visit the country after it elects a new president in January.
American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) honorary chairman William Brown welcomed Ma and Chow at San Francisco airport on their arrival on Monday. The first couple later attended a private dinner party hosted by overseas Taiwanese groups.
A group of overseas Taiwanese waved national flags in front of the hotel to welcome Ma, while another group of overseas Taiwanese protested his visit.
Ma said he has visited seven allies since taking office last year to strengthen relations, including his Central American trip last month.
“What strengthened our relationships with allies was not checkbooks, but flexible diplomacy and practical measures,” he said.
Ma complemented Chow for receiving more coverage during last month’s trip, adding: “I should be grateful my wife can accompany me, and I should not complain or be jealous.”
While in Panama, Ma will hold talks with Martinelli on the development of bilateral relations, Ambassador Simon Ko (柯森耀) told the Central News Agency on Monday. Ko said Ma was to attend a state banquet hosted by outgoing Panamanian President Martin Torrijos last night and another one today.
Ma was scheduled to address the Panamanian parliament tomorrow, Ko said.
Ma will make a transit stop in Hawaii on his way back to Taiwan on Monday.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although