Taiwanese love democracy and seek peace, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday, adding that Taipei would continue to work with the US and other democracies as the nation faces “continued authoritarian expansionism” from China.
Tsai made the comments at the start of a lunch with a visiting delegation of US lawmakers, hours after Beijing announced three days of military exercises around Taiwan.
“In recent years we have faced continued authoritarian expansionism,” Tsai said.
Photo: CNA
“Cooperation among democracies has become even more important. We will continue to work with the US and other like-minded countries to jointly defend the values of freedom and democracy,” she said, adding that “the people of Taiwan love democracy, seek peace and are keen to fulfill their responsibility in the international community.”
She also thanked the US Congress for being “a key force” in promoting relations between Taipei and Washington.
US Representative Michael McCaul, who led the visiting delegation, said they were in Taipei to show their strong support of Taiwan and that it was important that democracies stand together.
Photo: CNA
“As the [US] House [of Representatives] Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, I sign off on all foreign military sales, including weapons to Taiwan, and I promise you, Madam President, we will deliver those weapons,” he said.
Taiwan has since last year complained of delays regarding deliveries of US weapons, such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, as manufacturers seek to supply Ukraine to support its defense against Russia.
“We are doing everything we can in Congress to speed up these sales and get the weapons that you need to defend yourselves,” McCaul said.
McCaul, without elaborating, also said the US would provide training for the Taiwanese military in an effort to enhance the latter’s defensive capabilities.
“We will provide training to your military — not for war, but for peace,” he said. “Projecting weakness only invites aggression and conflict. Projecting strength provides deterrence and promotes peace.”
McCaul on Thursday arrived in Taiwan for a three-day visit, as part of a wider Indo-Pacific tour that also includes stops in Japan and South Korea.
The eight-member delegation also includes US representatives Guy Reschenthaler; Young Kim, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific; and Ami Bera, also a member of the foreign affairs committee.
The delegation has also met with executives of Taiwanese semiconductor and defense companies over the past few days.
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