President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday presented the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon to former Lithuanian minister of foreign affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Taiwan-Lithuania relations and to thank him for standing with Taiwan to uphold democratic values.
The friendship between Taiwan and Lithuania would hopefully inspire other nations to support democracy and freedom in the face of authoritarianism, Landsbergis said during the meeting with Lai at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, Lithuania was the first European nation to donate vaccines to Taiwan, an act of kindness that Taiwan “will never forget,” Lai said.
Photo: CNA
The Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania in the capital, Vilnius, is also the first in Europe to use the name “Taiwan,” with the two nations having seen “fruitful results in such fields as semiconductors, laser technology, finance and medicine,” he said.
Lai said that he hopes to increase bilateral exchanges in trade, science and technology, and culture, as “together, we can contribute even more to our nations’ development, and to peace and prosperity throughout the world.”
Images of the Taiwanese struggle for democracy displayed at the Presidential Office’s permanent exhibition resonate with Lithuania’s own experiences as a former part of the Russian Empire in the 19th century, when it staged many revolutions and revolts alongside Poland and Belarus in the pursuit of freedom, Landsbergis said.
“Not even one generation has passed since these events took place here in Taipei or similar events took place in Vilnius,” he said.
Many of Lithuania’s policymakers are former freedom fighters or stand on the shoulders of their parents who fought for democracy, he said, recalling the 1864 revolution slogan: “For our freedom and yours,” which inspires them to “continue to fight for their freedom while helping Taiwanese fight for [theirs].”
AIR DEFENSE: The Norwegian missile system has proved highly effective in Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the US has recommended it for Taiwan, an expert said The Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Taiwan ordered from the US would be installed in strategically important positions in Taipei and New Taipei City to guard the region, the Ministry of National Defense said in statement yesterday. The air defense system would be deployed in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) and New Taipei City’s Tamsui District (淡水), the ministry said, adding that the systems could be delivered as soon as the end of this year. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has previously said that three NASAMS would be sold to Taiwan. The weapons are part of the 17th US arms sale to
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: The suspects formed spy networks and paramilitary groups to kill government officials during a possible Chinese invasion, prosecutors said Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war. The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said. They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said. Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China
INSURRECTION: The NSB said it found evidence the CCP was seeking snipers in Taiwan to target members of the military and foreign organizations in the event of an invasion The number of Chinese spies prosecuted in Taiwan has grown threefold over a four-year period, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released yesterday. In 2021 and 2022, 16 and 10 spies were prosecuted respectively, but that number grew to 64 last year, it said, adding that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was working with gangs in Taiwan to develop a network of armed spies. Spies in Taiwan have on behalf of the CCP used a variety of channels and methods to infiltrate all sectors of the country, and recruited Taiwanese to cooperate in developing organizations and obtaining sensitive information
BREAKTHROUGH: The US is making chips on par in yield and quality with Taiwan, despite people saying that it could not happen, the official said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has begun producing advanced 4-nanometer (nm) chips for US customers in Arizona, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, a milestone in the semiconductor efforts of the administration of US President Joe Biden. In November last year, the commerce department finalized a US$6.6 billion grant to TSMC’s US unit for semiconductor production in Phoenix, Arizona. “For the first time ever in our country’s history, we are making leading edge 4-nanometer chips on American soil, American workers — on par in yield and quality with Taiwan,” Raimondo said, adding that production had begun in recent
RSS