The US and Taiwan can deepen their relations on many fronts, former head of the US Indo-Pacific Command Philip Davidson said yesterday while visiting President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office.
Davidson is leading a six-member delegation from the National Bureau of Asian Research, a US-based think tank. They arrived on Monday and are scheduled to depart tomorrow.
Tsai met with the delegation yesterday morning, welcoming the organization on its first visit to Taiwan since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the office said in a statement.
Photo: Makoto Lin, EPA-EFE
She thanked Davidson, a retired admiral, for paying close attention to matters regarding the Taiwan Strait during his tenure from 2018 to 2021, and calling on the US government to continue his efforts after retiring, the statement said.
Taiwan must boost its defense capabilities in the face of authoritarian expansion to ensure national security, and safeguard the values of democracy and freedom, Tsai said in the statement.
“We have the faith, confidence and ability” to protect the country, Tsai said, adding that Taiwan would continue to work with the US and other like-minded partners.
Taiwan and the US continue to facilitate military exchanges, economic cooperation and trade partnerships, Tsai said.
The latest meeting of the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade last month facilitated trade with convenient customs clearance protocols and bilateral platforms, she said.
Taiwan is looking forward to cooperating more closely with the US in supply chain matters, telecommunications security, science and technology, and other areas, she added.
Taiwan is a force for good that maintains regional peace and protects democracy and freedom, Tsai said, adding that the nation contributes to the prosperity of the region.
Davidson thanked Tsai for the warm welcome and said that he is honored to visit Taiwan for the first time.
He had in-depth discussions with US and Taiwanese bodies, along with think tanks in Taipei, he said.
Discussions since the delegation’s arrival focused on Taiwan’s democratic progress and civil society, as well as China’s actions against Taiwan, he said.
Taiwan has robust infrastructure and industrial development, he said, adding that he has found Taiwanese to be very friendly.
Prior to his arrival, Davidson was in Japan, where he clarified a remark he made in 2021 that China might attack Taiwan in abut 2027, saying that such a move would not necessarily manifest as an invasion of Taiwan proper.
“In my mind, that can be many lesser things than an all-out invasion. One of those would be the threats to outer islands, and I think it’s a grave security concern,” he said.
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
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
SEA SEARCH: Nine crew members of a cargo ship had taken to the water after the vessel sunk off the southern coast, with a rescue effort under way, officials said The strongest typhoon to hit Taiwan in eight years yesterday killed three people and flooded parts of the nation’s second-biggest city, while rescuers were searching for nine sailors after their cargo ship sank in the storm. Typhoon Gaemi transformed streets in Kaohsiung into rivers, with some households flooded. Offices and schools were closed for the second consecutive day, with thousands of people evacuated. Three people died and 380 were injured due to strong winds and torrential rainfall brought by Typhoon Gaemi, the Central Emergency Response Center said. The typhoon made landfall in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳) at midnight yesterday and departed Taiwan