Taiwanese are determined to defend their homeland and its sovereignty, and are willing to invest more in regional peace with like-minded partners, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told a delegation of US representatives yesterday.
US Representative Ken Calvert, who chairs the US House of Representatives Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, is leading the delegation to Taiwan on a two-day visit.
The other members are fellow Republican US representatives Tom Cole, Dave Joyce and Mike Garcia, as well as Democratic US Representative Ed Case, all of whom are on the House Committee on Appropriations.
Photo provided by Taiwan Presidential Office
Calvert is on his second visit to Taiwan following a trip in 1995, while Cole visited the nation more than 40 years ago, and the others are on their first visit to Taiwan, Tsai said.
The representatives have significant influence on US government expenditures, including for defense resources, Tsai said, adding that their visit demonstrates the importance they attach to Taiwan’s security and Taiwan-US relations.
Highlighting her administration’s efforts to bolster defense resilience and restructure the military, Tsai reiterated the resolve of Taiwanese to defend themselves.
“We are willing and able to fortify cooperation with the US and like-minded partners,” she said. “Together, we can invest even more effort toward regional peace and stability, and democratic resilience across the globe.”
She also thanked the US Congress for its “unwavering bipartisan support,” in particular the Taiwan-friendly portions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
On trade, Tsai mentioned the second round of Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade negotiations in January, expressing hope that the two sides could reach an agreement on trade facilitation, labor rights and digital trade.
This agreement could hopefully become a basis for signing a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement, she added.
Calvert thanked Tsai for her welcome, saying that delegation members have seen many “positive changes” in Taiwan since their previous visits.
He also said they look forward to discussing regional security, trade and investment, among other areas of mutual interest.
The delegation is in Taiwan to build on decades of peace and prosperity in the region and strengthen ties between Taiwan and the US, he added.
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