DEFENSE
US ship transits Strait
A US military vessel transited the Taiwan Strait yesterday, the Ministry of National Defense said. The vessel sailed north through the Taiwan Strait, it said in a statement, adding that it was closely monitoring nearby airspace and waters as the ship crossed and observed nothing unusual. In another statement, the US identified the ship as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson. The ship was conducting a routine Taiwan Strait transit through waters where high seas freedom of navigation and overflight apply under international law, it said. “Ralph Johnson’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle,” the statement said. “No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.” Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Li Xi (李熹) criticized the US for “trumpeting” the transit.
EVENTS
Taiwan to host scout event
Taiwan is to host the 2029 World Scout Moot following a successful bid at the World Scout Conference in Cairo, the General Association of the Scouts of China (Taiwan) said yesterday. Taiwan on Wednesday garnered the support of more than 90 percent of the nearly 2,000 attendees from 176 countries, it said in a statement. The association said the event is to take place at Tsou Ma Lai Farm in Tainan, where the 12th National Jamboree was held last month. The World Scout Moot is one of the three major international scouting events, along with the World Scout Conference and the World Scout Jamboree. The World Scout Moot is held every four years, primarily for scouts aged 18 to 25. Taiwan previously hosted the event in 2004.
WEATHER
Storm not to impact Taiwan
A low-pressure system in the Pacific was upgraded to a tropical storm early yesterday, but would not impact Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Shanshan was 2,290km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻) at 8am, moving at 6kph in a north-northwesterly direction, it said. CWA data showed it had maximum sustained winds of 72kph, with gusts reaching 101kph. The agency said the storm would not directly impact Taiwan and was moving slowly toward Japan.
TRADE
Paraguay open to China
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena on Wednesday said he was “fully open” to trade deals with China via South American trade bloc Mercosur, despite his country’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Paraguay is the last South American country with formal relations with Taiwan. Mercosur, a customs union, has been in talks to finalize a trade deal with the EU, but has also discussed a potential trade deal with China. “Our position with China is one of total openness,” Pena said of Paraguay’s position within Mercosur, adding that the obstacle was China not accepting its recognition of Taiwan. “We are in favor of advancing trade agreements,” he said in an interview with Reuters. Mercosur officials held a dialogue with Chinese counterparts on Monday last week in Uruguay’s capital. “I see prudence on Brazil’s side,” Pena said of the possible China agreement, which he emphasized that he supported. “I think that the most interested is Uruguay, and we accompany this effort to have a conversation as a bloc.”
Taipei and New Taipei City government officials are aiming to have the first phase of the Wanhua-Jungho-Shulin Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line completed and opened by 2027, following the arrival of the first train set yesterday. The 22km-long Light Green Line would connect four densely populated districts in Taipei and New Taipei City: Wanhua (萬華), Jhonghe (中和), Tucheng (土城) and Shulin (樹林). The first phase of the project would connect Wanhua and Jhonghe districts, with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Chukuang (莒光) being the terminal stations. The two municipalities jointly hosted a ceremony for the first train to be used
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said it is fully aware of the situation following reports that the son of ousted Chinese politician Bo Xilai (薄熙來) has arrived in Taiwan and is to marry a Taiwanese. Local media reported that Bo Guagua (薄瓜瓜), son of the former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is to marry the granddaughter of Luodong Poh-Ai Hospital founder Hsu Wen-cheng (許文政). The pair met when studying abroad and arranged to get married this year, with the wedding breakfast to be held at The One holiday resort in Hsinchu
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon this morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan between Friday and Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The storm, which as of 8am was still 1,100km southeast of southern Taiwan, is currently expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, the CWA said. Because of its rapid speed — 28kph as of 8am — a sea warning for the storm could be issued tonight, rather than tomorrow, as previously forecast, the CWA said. In terms of its impact, Usagi is to bring scattered or
An orange gas cloud that leaked from a waste management plant yesterday morning in Taoyuan’s Guanyin District (觀音) was likely caused by acidic waste, authorities said, adding that it posed no immediate harm. The leak occurred at a plant in the district’s Environmental Science and Technology Park at about 7am, the Taoyuan Fire Department said. Firefighters discovered a cloud of unidentified orange gas leaking from a waste tank when they arrived on the site, it said, adding that they put on Level A chemical protection before entering the building. After finding there was no continuous leak, the department worked with the city’s Department
RSS