The Presidential Office yesterday thanked political leaders from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and like-minded countries that sent condolences after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the nation on Wednesday.
Presidential Office spokesperson Olivia Lin (林聿禪) thanked political leaders from 88 countries in statements issued on Wednesday night and yesterday.
She expressed gratitude for the concern and condolences offered by Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr, Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceno, Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo and Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip Pierre.
Photo: Tyrone Siu, Reuters
She also thanked Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Charles Michel, political leaders in the US and the UK, as well as the Dalai Lama.
Many governments and political figures around the globe also voiced their condolences to the families of the people who died and expressed support for Taiwan.
“Canada stands ready to provide support and has reached out to Taiwanese officials. We’re also engaging to make sure affected Canadians have the support they need,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference on Wednesday.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet posted messages on X.
The EU and the UK expressed readiness to provide assistance, Michel and British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron wrote separately on X.
The French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs in a statement offered condolences to the bereaved families and pledged support for the people of Taiwan during their ordeal.
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis in a post on the ministry’s official X account offered “sincere condolences” to those affected by the earthquake, adding: “We wish for the swift recovery of the injured and stand ready to offer assistance in the disaster response efforts.”
Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen offered prayers to “the brave people of Taiwan and our allies in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (黃英賢) expressed condolences on behalf of Australians, adding that the country is working with Taipei and Tokyo to check if any Australians were affected.
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said: “Our thoughts are with the people of Taiwan ... especially all those directly affected and with loved ones missing.”
The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed sympathy for those affected in a statement.
Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara said: “Thai people join me in wishing that the rehabilitation and recovery efforts will be swift and that the situation will soon return to normalcy.”
In a pre-recorded video, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that “we have expressed our sympathy to those who have suffered as a result of the terrible earthquake.”
US Representative Ami Bera, cochair of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus, expressed condolences for Taiwan on Facebook.
“During my multiple trips to Taiwan, I have seen firsthand the resilience of its people and the strong management systems in place to respond to natural disasters,” Bera wrote.
“The Taiwanese people are among the most resilient in the world and they will recover from this disaster quickly and stronger,” US-China Economic and Security Review Commission Commissioner Jacob Helberg, who is on a trip to Taiwan, wrote on X.
Supportive voices also came from former US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft, US representatives Mike Collins, John Curtis, August Pfluger, Jasmine Crockett, Betty McCollum, Kevin Hern, Ted Lieu (劉雲平), Judy Chu (趙美心), Young Kim and Michael Burgess, as well as US senators Marco Rubio, Marsha Blackburn and Steve Daines.
Oleksandr Merezhko, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, wrote in a social media post: “My thoughts & prayers go out to those affected by the powerful Pacific temblor. Godspeed to first responders as they perform rescue & recovery efforts. Stay strong!”
Marko Mihkelson and Rihards Kols, who chair the foreign affairs committees of the Estonian and Latvian parliaments respectively, also extended condolences to those affected by the disaster.
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine extended the country’s “heartfelt condolences,” adding that the country “stands in solidarity” with Taiwan.
“It’s heartwarming to receive condolences, well wishes & offers to help from leaders around the world. You let us know that we are not alone, & we will stay strong & resilient with your support,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) wrote on X yesterday.
Additional reporting by CNA
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
DISCONTENT: The CCP finds positive content about the lives of the Chinese living in Taiwan threatening, as such video could upset people in China, an expert said Chinese spouses of Taiwanese who make videos about their lives in Taiwan have been facing online threats from people in China, a source said yesterday. Some young Chinese spouses of Taiwanese make videos about their lives in Taiwan, often speaking favorably about their living conditions in the nation compared with those in China, the source said. However, the videos have caught the attention of Chinese officials, causing the spouses to come under attack by Beijing’s cyberarmy, they said. “People have been messing with the YouTube channels of these Chinese spouses and have been harassing their family members back in China,”
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said there are four weather systems in the western Pacific, with one likely to strengthen into a tropical storm and pose a threat to Taiwan. The nascent tropical storm would be named Usagi and would be the fourth storm in the western Pacific at the moment, along with Typhoon Yinxing and tropical storms Toraji and Manyi, the CWA said. It would be the first time that four tropical cyclones exist simultaneously in November, it added. Records from the meteorology agency showed that three tropical cyclones existed concurrently in January in 1968, 1991 and 1992.
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