UK, US top diplomats take united front on Taiwan issue

UK, US top diplomats take united front on Taiwan issue

2023-05-10

The top diplomats of the U.S. and the U.K. took a united front on Taiwan in a press conference on Tuesday. Speaking after their meeting in Washington, U.S. state secretary Antony Blinken and U.K. foreign secretary James Cleverly said that peace in the Taiwan Strait was a shared priority. The officials said they had discussed a coordinated approach for engaging with China, in hopes of influencing its actions in the region. Also on Tuesday, Blinken issued a statement urging the World Health Assembly to include Taiwan as an observer.

British foreign secretary James Cleverly visited Washington, D.C. and held a one-hour closed-door meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Their talks centered on the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s threat in the Taiwan Strait.

Antony Blinken
US secretary of state
…a shared approach when it comes to key issues like ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as looking for ways to cooperate with China where we can work together to solve big challenges. That’s what people around the world expect from great powers, and it’s in our collective interest.

Blinken referred to the U.K.’s latest foreign policy report, released in March, saying there was a strategic alignment between the U.S. and U.K. on their China strategy. Cleverly said the same, emphasizing that the U.K., like the U.S., must confront China’s “inappropriate activities” and strengthen alliances with Indo-Pacific allies.

James Cleverly
UK foreign secretary
And we have to engage with China directly, robustly, regularly, to seek to influence the decisions that are made in Beijing … whether that be on the maintenance of peace across the Taiwan Strait…

The security of the Taiwan Strait has become a global issue. In its latest foreign policy report, the U.K. emphasized the importance of stability in the strait and of peaceful dialogue for resolving the Taiwan question. Last month, Cleverly warned that no country would be spared from the impact of a war in the strait.

James Cleverly (April 25)
UK foreign secretary
Taiwan is a thriving democracy and a crucial link in global supply chains. A war across the strait would not only be a human tragedy. It would destroy world trade worth US$2.6 trillion.

With the World Health Assembly to open in Geneva on May 21, Blinken issued a statement urging the WHO to include Taiwan as an observer.

Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
So far, countries with similar principles have already demonstrated stronger support and more diverse forms of support, or – that is to say – they’re speaking out at higher levels, speaking out more and more strongly. Our diplomatic allies will also initiate motions to support us, and we’re making thorough preparations for that. We hope that this year, support for our participation in the WHO will reach an unprecedented level.

Since taking office in January 2021, Blinken has issued three public endorsements of Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA.

英國外相會美國國務卿聚焦俄烏戰.台海威脅

2023-05-10

美國國務卿布林肯今天和英國外相柯維立在華府會談，特別就台海議題做出聲明，雙方同意應該跟中國就重大議題作接觸，包括在台海議題上影響北京的決定，因為台海和平攸關全球。另外世界衛生大會即將在本月21號召開，我國目前還沒收到邀請函，布林肯也發聲明力挺台灣以觀察員身分出席。

英國外相柯維立前往華府，跟美國國務卿布林肯閉門會談1小時。雙方對話環繞俄烏戰爭，還有中國對台海的威脅。

[[美國國務卿布林肯]]
“(美英)在關鍵議題上作法一致，譬如確保台海和平穩定，以及尋求能夠與中國合作的方法以應對重大挑戰，這是全世界對強權國家的期待，也是我們的共同利益”

布林肯提到英國3月公布的新版國防報告，指出美英應對中國的戰略有共識。柯維立也呼應布林肯說法，強調英國跟美國一樣，必須對抗中國不適當的行動，強化英美跟印太盟友的結盟。

[[英國外相柯維立]]
“我們必須與中國，直接地，堅定地，經常地接觸，以尋求影響北京的決定，包括有關維護台海和平”

台海安全近來躍升國際焦點，英國新版國防報告第一次提到台灣，強調台海情勢穩定和對話和平解決台灣議題的重要。上個月柯維立也才剛警告，一旦台海開戰，沒有哪個國家能不受波及。

[[英國外相柯維立 (04.25)]]
“台灣是繁榮的民主國家，也是全球供應鏈重要一環，台海戰爭不僅是人類悲劇，還會摧毀價值2.6兆美元的世界貿易”

另外，世界衛生大會21號將在瑞士登場，美國國務卿布林肯特別發聲明，表達美國「強烈鼓勵」世界衛生組織邀請台灣以觀察員身分出席今年WHA的立場。

[[外交部長吳釗燮]]
“到目前為止，理念相近國家，支持我們的力道愈來愈強，多元化或是說，層級提高的這種方式，也愈來愈強，我們的友邦國家提案來協助我們的這方面，我們也在做萬全的準備當中，希望今年支持我們台灣，參加世界衛生組織的聲勢，能夠達到歷史空前”

這是布林肯2021年1月上任以來，第3度發表公開聲明支持台灣重返WHA。

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She skillfully transforms the rush grass into beautiful and intricate designs such as a dog, pig, and even a boat.

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Cheng Mei-yu
Rush grass weaving master
This big boat is made by the Indigenous Yami people. If you’ve never seen it in person, you wouldn’t know the story. But at the exhibition in the U.S. we will be able to tell the story. After the boat is built, you must throw it into the air. After you toss it up, the owner of the boat which is the one on the top will be stable and not fall. Many people have never seen this ceremony, but if you were to see it in person, you would be very moved. I use rush grass weaving works to tell the story.

There’s also Hung Hsin-fu, a paper carving master who has been perfecting his craft for 40 years. He’s both an artist and a teacher, and has exhibited his works in over 20 countries and 100 cities around the world. Many of his crafts include animals that are unique to Taiwan, including rare species of butterflies and eagles.

Hung Hsin-fu
Paper carving master
This time when we visit the United States, there are many handicraft items that will be on display. I am skilled at paper art. Besides presenting creative works that show Taiwan’s unique creatures, one of my most important tasks is teaching others.

Over 20 art pieces by Taiwanese craftspeople will be displayed at an exhibition in Washington D.C. in May, and in New York in June. There will be three exhibition areas, titled “Earth,” “Community,” and “Mind.” The main theme of Taiwan’s exhibition is “Homeland.”

Chang Jen-chi
National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute
What is “Homeland”? It’s our homeland on Earth. Why is our curatorial theme “homeland”? We wanted to highlight our interactions with the Earth. In many works, many craftsmen used marine waste, agricultural waste, recycled materials, and sustainable materials to make their crafts.

Lee Lien-chuan
Deputy culture minister
First of all, Taiwan should put its culture out there for the world to see. Secondly, Taiwan needs to let the world see its efforts in environmental protection. Third, we should let our multiculturalism be seen by the world.

The first exhibition will be held at Overseas Community Affairs Council in Washington D.C., from May 12 to 31. The second exhibition will be at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York from June 7 till June 30. Through the exhibitions, organizers hope to allow more people to see the beauty of Taiwan’s unique craftsmanship.

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In the post-pandemic era, the itch to travel is stronger than ever. Despite airline ticket prices soaring high, there are ways to score a bargain.

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Taitung brothers make a name for Taiwan’s burgeoning urban dance scene

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Taiwanese urban dancer Tsai Jen-hao tears up the stage. His smooth and humorous locking performances win cheers from other dancers at the Next Urban Legend contest in France.

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