Following the US’ lead, Australia has requested that Taiwan allow its citizens in Japan to enter the country as part of its plan to evacuate Australians from the disaster-struck country.
Taiwan has agreed to the request, presented yesterday, out of humanitarian concern, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman James Chang (章計平) said.
The Australia Commerce and Industry Office in Taiwan was unable to be reached for comment on details of the plan, such as the arrival time and the number of Australian citizens to be evacuated from Japan to Taipei.
Photo: Yao Kai-shiu, Taipei Times
Meanwhile, a second charter flight arranged by the US government with about 300 Americans on board was scheduled to arrive in Taipei at 00:45am today.
Early yesterday morning, 97 Americans arrived in Taipei, mainly families and dependents of US government employees and some US civilians.
All members of the group were tested for radiation following their arrival, but none were found to have abnormal levels of radioactivity, sources said.
Dozens of American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) employees were at the airport to help evacuees get through immigration and customs before helping them check in to hotels.
AIT spokeswoman Sheila Paskman said in a telephone interview that most of the evacuated Americans might stay in Taiwan for one or two days until they arrange flights back to the US.
There were about 190,000 Americans in Japan before the disaster struck on March 11, Paskman said.
The US Department of State on Thursday authorized the voluntary departure of family members and dependents of US personnel in Tokyo, Yokohama and Nagoya, providing charter flights to either Taipei or Seoul.
Paskman said it was not clear at the moment how many Americans would be brought to Taipei as it is arranging the charter flights day-by-day, depending on the number of people who wish to leave Japan.
The AIT suspended routine visa services for Taiwanese applicants yesterday so its visa officers could assist their compatriots at the -airport, but it is continuing the service for applicants who qualify as emergency cases.
“It remains unknown when the visa service can be resumed. It all depends on how many flights are coming to Taiwan,” Paskman said, adding that the AIT might decide a date over the weekend.
Yesterday morning, Paskman showed up at the front gate of the AIT complex, apologizing to people who were not aware of the suspension in advance.
Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) told lawmakers at the legislative that he had asked MOFA to help the AIT handle the entry of the Americans so that some of the AIT’s staff members could resume visa services for Taiwanese nationals.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
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