Taiwan, the US and Japan yesterday issued a joint statement announcing that they would seek greater cooperation under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) as they marked its fifth anniversary.
In a statement signed by Minster of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Brent Christensen and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Hiroyasu Izumi, the offices said that to bolster their partnership, they would be expanding the “frequency, size and scope of the GCTF workshops, including holding more events outside Taiwan,” as well as the “depth and breadth of participation from like-minded countries, including co-hosting programs.”
They would establish a GCTF task force as part of the ministry’s Department of North American Affairs to serve as the GCTF Secretariat, and a GCTF Alumni Network for former participants, the statement said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Christensen told a news conference that when the framework was established in 2015, the international community did not understand the wealth of professional knowledge and valuable experience Taiwan could provide.
Unlike symbolic international forums, the GCTF is focused and practical, he said, adding that it is focused on topics that are most in need of discussion and it creates tangible results.
The GCTF is free of political interference, and its only purpose is to allow professionals to benefit from Taiwan’s experience and expertise, he said.
The US looks forward to continuing to work with Japan and Taiwan, allowing the world to understand that Taiwan is a reliable partner, democratic role model and force for good, and allowing “real friends, real progress” — which describes Taiwan-US relations — to become the spirit of the cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.
Izumi said that Japan, Taiwan and the US share the values of freedom, democracy and human rights.
Japan is honored to join the framework, he said.
Japan joined the GCTF as a partner last year.
The theme of the GCTF is practical and meets the needs of the different nations, he said.
Taiwan has received international praise for its fight against the novel coronavirus and made a greater contribution to international society, he said.
Workshops have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that they would continue to be held in more flexible ways.
A page dedicated to the framework is to be created on the association’s Web site, he said, adding that the Japanese government hopes to cooperate more actively with Taiwan.
Japan would not, and cannot, leave Taiwan, he said, adding that Japan and Taiwan must act together.
Wu welcomed more like-minded partners to join the platform.
AIT Deputy Director Raymond Green, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Deputy Representative Nishiumi Shigehiro, as well as representatives and deputy representatives from Canada, Sweden, Australia, the UK and New Zealand, were among the guests who attended the news conference.
Sweden and Australia have cohosted GCTF events, and the Netherlands is planning to join it.
The GCTF has held 23 international training programs in the areas of public health, women’s rights, energy security, information security and humanitarian aid, among others, inviting the participation of more than 500 government officials and experts from at least 38 nations.
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
The Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP) has funded short-term internships in Taiwan for more than 4,500 young people from more than 40 countries since 2015, with the goal of attracting and retaining international talent, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. Fifty-five colleges launched 514 projects this year, including in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, medicine and biotechnology, green energy, and sustainability, it said. The program provides research and practical internships in Taiwan for two to six months, and offers cultural exchange and networking opportunities, the ministry said. For example, National Formosa University’s Embedded System and Autopilot Laboratory developed two solar-powered drones in
GLOBAL: Although Matsu has limited capacity for large numbers of domestic tourists, it would be a great high-end destination for international travelers, an official said Lienchiang County’s (Matsu) unique landscape and Cold War history give it great potential to be marketed as a destination for international travelers, Tourism Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said at the weekend. Tourism officials traveled to the outlying island for the Matsu Biennial, an art festival that started on Friday to celebrate Matsu’s culture, history and landscape. Travelers to Matsu, which lies about 190km northwest of Taipei, must fly or take the state-run New Taima passenger ship. However, flights are often canceled during fog season from April to June. Chen spoke about her vision to promote Matsu as a tourist attraction in
Taipei resident Mu Chu-hua caught some glimpses of China’s mighty military parade on YouTube on Wednesday. As she watched hypersonic missiles roll down Beijing’s Changan Avenue and troops march in lockstep, she did not feel like they posed a threat to Taiwan. Mu, a 69-year-old retiree, said she saw the parade as simply a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to “say thank you to the troops.” “I thought it was quite normal,” she said. “It was very cool.” China’s military parade commemorating the end of World War II was being watched internationally for insights into Beijing’s military advances and its show
RSS