Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday condemned Russia for invading Ukraine, reiterating that Taiwan would be one of the democratic countries that impose sanctions on Moscow.
Taiwan on Friday said that it would join the EU, US and other countries in imposing sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which Taipei condemned as unilaterally changing the “status quo.”
Su said that Taiwan holds geopolitical significance, and unlike Ukraine, which shares a border with Russia, is separated from China by the more than 130km-wide Taiwan Strait.
Photo: CNA
Taiwanese are united and vigilant against foreign forces attempting to use disinformation to weaken their morale, Su said, adding that the government has asked relevant agencies to clarify and counter misleading information.
The premier also called for Taiwanese to stand together to protect “the sovereignty of our country, the safety of our people, as well as the democracy and freedom of Taiwan.”
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) yesterday asked the DPP caucus to submit a motion in the legislature to issue a resolution condemning Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Chiu also called on the Executive Yuan to review resources in each ministry and inform the legislature about items that could be donated to Ukraine.
Although Taiwan has no formal diplomatic ties with Ukraine, Taiwanese can provide humanitarian aid, he said, adding that the DPP caucus could also donate to Ukraine on behalf of the Legislative Yuan.
Regarding comments that Taiwan would not face the same situation as Ukraine, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) yesterday told reporters that the matter depends on Taiwan’s national defense capabilities, its resolution in maintaining peace and the possibility of conflict.
Chu said that he was against wars of any kind and called for Taiwan to maintain peace in the region by communicating with its neighbors and avoiding malicious provocations.
In response to speculation that the Ukraine-Russia conflict would prompt the US to provide aid to Taiwan, Chu said that Taiwan should rely on itself, adding that the KMT has always believed in bolstering national defense while interacting peacefully with Beijing.
Regarding rumors that some KMT members advocate for peace talks with China, as they do not expect the US to aid Taiwan in the event of an attack, Chu said that the KMT was determined to safeguard the Republic of China.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Friday condemned Chinese and Russian authorities for escalating regional tensions, citing Chinese warplanes crossing the Taiwan Strait’s median line and joint China-Russia military activities breaching South Korea’s air defense identification zone (KADIZ) over the past two days. A total of 30 Chinese warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Thursday and Friday, entering Taiwan’s northern and southwestern airspace in coordination with 15 naval vessels and three high-altitude balloons, the MAC said in a statement. The Chinese military also carried out another “joint combat readiness patrol” targeting Taiwan on Thursday evening, the MAC said. On
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday confirmed that Chinese students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation were almost all affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During yesterday’s meeting convened by the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) asked whether the visit was a way to spread China’s so-called “united front” rhetoric, to which MAC Deputy Ministry Shen You-chung (沈有忠) responded with the CCP comment. The MAC noticed that the Chinese individuals visiting Taiwan, including those in sports, education, or religion, have had increasingly impressive backgrounds, demonstrating that the
MILITARY EXERCISES: China is expected to conduct more drills in the region after President William Lai’s office announced he would stopover in Hawaii and Guam China is likely to launch military drills in the coming days near Taiwan, using President William Lai’s (賴清德) upcoming trip to the Pacific and scheduled US transit as a pretext, regional security officials said. Lai is to begin a visit to Taipei’s three diplomatic allies in the Pacific on Saturday, and sources told Reuters he was planning stops in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam in a sensitive trip shortly after the US presidential election. Lai’s office has yet to confirm details of what are officially “stop-overs” in the US, but is expected to do so shortly before he departs, sources
Tasa Meng Corp (采盟), which runs Taiwan Duty Free, could be fined up to NT$1 million (US$30,737) after the owner and employees took center stage in a photograph with government officials and the returning Premier12 baseball champions at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Monday evening. When Taiwan’s national baseball team arrived home fresh from their World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 championship victory in Tokyo, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) was at the airport with Chinese Professional Baseball League commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) to welcome back the team. However, after Hsiao and Tsai took a photograph with the team, Tasa Meng chairwoman Ku