Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges.
“Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank.
Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
The nation’s own efforts in strengthening itself are also of great importance, Hsiao said.
“We must have the confidence that Taiwan is worthy of galvanizing international support,” she said.
Taiwan has demonstrated its economic, social, democratic and defense resilience in the face of natural disasters, limited natural resources, the martial law era, diplomatic isolation, cyberattacks, disinformation, political interference and near-daily military incursions, she said.
Photo: Tien Yu-hua, Taipei Times
“Against all these odds and long overshadowed by our larger neighbors, Taiwan’s remarkable story of perseverance and determination has propelled it onto the world stage,” she said.
Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, regularly held free and fair elections, and an open society that has become home to a growing number of international non-governmental organizations, think tanks and media organizations, Hsiao said.
The progress the nation made in universal healthcare accessibility, gender equality and LGBTQ rights are also inspiring neighboring nations, she added.
Through humanitarian assistance and charity programs, “Taiwan has managed to lead in our soft power as a force for good extending the influence of kindness and humanity across the region,” she said.
On the economic front, Taiwan boasts high-tech innovation and a thriving ecosystem largely driven by small and medium-sized enterprises, she said.
Hsiao said she and president-elect William Lai (賴清德) “are committed to leveraging these assets as we work to forge stronger partnerships with like-minded societies around the world.”
At the same forum, former Virginia governor James Gilmore expressed the US’ determination to cooperate with allies around the world in its leadership.
“America is stronger, our country is stronger ... when we work with other people,” Gilmore said.
The US has a stake in the Asia-Pacific region and has to consider the impacts of its actions on other nations, including Taiwan, said Gilmore, who was also former US president Donald Trump’s ambassador to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
“Taiwan is our friend, and we have a stake in the success and strength and friendship of Taiwan,” 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
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