特朗普簽署新台灣法，台灣歡呼，中國不滿

Recently Google News on-line picked up the following:

Taiwan cheered, China upset after Trump signs new Taiwan legislation into law

By Reuters - Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Joe Cash; Editing by Michael Perry

December 3, 20254:04 PM GMT+8Updated December 3, 2025

TAIPEI/BEIJING, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Taiwan expressed thanks and China was upset on Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed into law legislation requiring the U.S. State Department to regularly review and update guidelines on how the United States officially interacts with Taipei.

The United States is Taiwan's most important international backer despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, and the issue is a constant source of irritation in Sino-U.S. relations given Beijing views the democratically-governed island as its own.

In 2021 under the first Trump administration, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, put in place after Washington recognised Beijing in 1979.

The Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which Trump signed into law on Tuesday, says the U.S. State Department should carry out reviews of contacts with Taiwan no less than once every five years.

The law "affirms the value of U.S. interaction with Taiwan, supports closer Taiwan-U.S. relations, and stands as a firm symbol of our shared values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights", Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters more frequent reviews of the guidelines would allow Taiwanese officials into federal agencies for meetings, for example, though the legislation does not make explicit mention of this.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China firmly opposes any form of official contact between the United States and "the Taiwan region of China".

"The Taiwan question is the core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China–U.S. relations," he added.

The United States should exercise "the utmost prudence in handling the Taiwan question, to stop all official interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan, and not to send any wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces", Lin said.

Taiwan's government rejects China's territorial claims and says it has a right to freely engage with countries around the world.

Translation

特朗普簽署新台灣法，台灣歡呼，中國不滿

台北/北京，12月3日（路透社）- 週三，美國總統特朗普簽署了一項法案，要求美國國務院定期審查和更新美國與台北官方互動方式的指導方針。此舉引發台灣的感謝，而中國則感到不滿。

儘管台灣與美國沒有正式外交關係，但美國仍是台灣最重要的國際支持者。鑑於北京將這個民主治理的島嶼視為其領土的一部分，台灣問題一直是中美關係中持續的摩擦點。

2021年，在特朗普第一任期內，時任國務卿蓬佩奧取消了美國官員與台灣官員接觸的限制。這些限制是在華盛頓於1979年承認北京後實施的。

特朗普週二簽署生效的《台灣保證實施法》規定，美國國務院應至少每五年對與台灣的接觸情況進行一次審查。

台灣總統府發言人Karen Kuo在聲明中表示，該法「肯定了美台互動的重要性，支持加強台美關係，並成為我們共同的民主、自由和尊重人權價值的堅定象徵」。

台灣外交部長Lin Chia-lung告訴記者，更頻繁地審查這些準則將允許台灣官員進入聯邦機構進行會晤等，儘管該法案並未明確提及這一點。

在北京，中國外交部發言人Lin Jian表示，中方堅決反對美國與「中國台灣地區」進行任何形式的官方接觸。

他補充道:「台灣問題是中國核心利益的核心，也是中美關係中不容逾越的第一條紅線」。

Lin表示，美國在處理台灣問題上應「極度謹慎，停止美台一切官方往來，不要向『台獨』分裂勢力發出任何錯誤訊號」。

台灣當局拒絕承認中國的領土主張，並表示有權與世界各國自由交往。

              So, Donald Trump has signed into law legislation requiring the U.S. State Department to regularly review and update guidelines on how the United States officially interacts with Taipei. Taiwan presumes that more frequent reviews of the guidelines would allow Taiwanese officials into federal agencies for meetings, for example. Apparently, in the calculation of the US, Taiwan has a key role to play in checking mainland China.

中國引誘台灣人移居大陸引發台北擔憂

Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

China Enticing Taiwanese to Live There Stirs Concern in Taipei

Bloomberg - Yian Lee

Sun, January 5, 2025 at 7:57 p.m. PST·2 min read

(Bloomberg) -- China’s efforts to entice more Taiwanese people to get permits to live and work on the mainland is prompting concern in Taipei that Beijing could be laying the groundwork to justify intervention in the self-governing island’s affairs, according to a senior Taiwanese official.

China’s efforts to promote the residence permit have recently intensified, especially when it comes to targeting Taiwanese people who’ve never traveled to the mainland, said the official, who asked not to be identified discussing a sensitive matter.

Taiwanese officials are concerned holders of this permit will be easier to convince to apply for China’s national citizen identification card and to swap their passports for those issued by Beijing, the official said. They worry that could in turn be used by the Chinese government to justify the need to “protect Chinese citizens” in Taiwan, said the official.

In 2018, China introduced this type of residence permit specifically for those from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau to make it easier for holders to live and work on the mainland. The permit also grants access to financial services and social benefits, and can be obtained without those from Taiwan having to renounce their Taiwanese citizenship.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has vowed to eventually bring the island under its control, even if by force. Ties between the two sides have become increasingly strained as of late after Lai Ching-te was elected Taiwan’s president in 2024. Beijing views Lai with great suspicion and has accused him of pursuing outright independence for Taiwan.

Asked about the Chinese residence permits after he delivered his New Year’s address last Wednesday, Lai responded by saying, “do not be tempted by short-term benefits and stray onto the wrong path, because democracy is priceless and freedom cannot be cashed in.”

Translation

中國引誘台灣人移居大陸引發台北擔憂

（彭博）—據一位台灣高級官員稱，中國為吸引更多台灣人獲得在大陸居住和工作的許可而做出的努力，引發了台北方面的擔憂，他們擔心北京可能正在為干涉台灣島自治事務奠定基礎。

這位因討論敏感話題而不願透露姓名的台灣官員表示，中國最近加大了居住證推廣力度，特別是針對那些從未去過大陸的台灣人。

這位官員說，台灣官員擔心，持有該許可證的人將更容易被說服申請中國公民身分證，並換發北京頒發的護照。這位官員說，他們擔心中國政府可能會利用這一點，為其需要「保護在台灣的中國公民」尋找藉口。

2018年，中國專門為台灣、香港和澳門居民推出了此類居住許可，以方便持有者在大陸生活和工作。該許可證還允許台灣人享受金融服務和社會福利，並且無需放棄台灣國籍亦可獲得該許可證。

中國認為台灣是其領土的一部分，並誓言即去使用武力, 也最終會將該島置於其控制之下。賴清德於 2024 年當選台灣總統後，兩岸關係近來愈發緊張。北京對賴抱持極大懷疑，並指責他推行徹底是台灣獨立。

上週三，賴清德在發表新年講話後被問及中國居住證問題，他回應說：“不要受短期利益誘惑而誤入歧途，民主無價，自由是不能用現金兌換的”。

              So, China’s efforts to entice more Taiwanese people to get permits to live and work on the mainland is causing concern in Taipei in that Beijing could be laying the groundwork to justify intervention in the self-governing island’s affairs. Apparently, it is a soft way for China to absorb Taiwan into its orbit. Anyway, it is much better than using military forces.

印度計劃在中國緊張局勢醞釀之際簽署台灣勞動力供應協議

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

India Plans Taiwan Labor Supply Pact While China Tensions Brew

Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Shruti Srivastava and Betty Hou

Fri, November 10, 2023 at 2:38 p.m. GMT+8

(Bloomberg) -- India is forging closer economic ties with Taiwan with a plan to send tens of thousands of workers to the island as early as next month, according to senior officials familiar with the matter, potentially angering neighbor China.

Taiwan could hire as many as 100,000 Indians to work at factories, farms and hospitals, the officials said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. The two sides are expected to sign an employment mobility agreement by as early as December, the people said.

Taiwan’s aging society means it needs more workers, while in India, the economy isn’t growing fast enough to create enough jobs for the millions of young people who enter the labor market every year. Taiwan is projected to become a “super aged” society by 2025 with elderly people forecast to make up for more than a fifth of the population.

However, the employment deal is likely to ramp up geopolitical tensions with China, which opposes any official exchange with Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own. China is separated from Taiwan by a narrow body of water and shares a Himalayan border with India. It’s also been India’s top source of imports for the past two decades.

A pact with Taiwan does not suggest India is discarding the “One China Policy” — a position that recognizes the island as being a part of China. However, New Delhi has not reiterated that position in public documents and has instead fostered an active unofficial relationship with Taiwan.

The India-Taiwan jobs pact is now in the final stages of negotiation, Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters on Thursday. Taiwan’s Ministry of Labor didn’t specifically comment on the India deal when contacted by Bloomberg News, but said it welcomes cooperation with countries that could provide it with workers.

A mechanism to certify the health of Indian workers willing to move to Taiwan is still being worked out, people familiar with the discussions said.

In Taiwan, where the unemployment rate dropped to the lowest levels since 2000, the government needs workers to keep the $790 billion economy going. Taiwan is offering the Indian workers pay parity with locals and insurance policies to sweeten the deal, unlike other countries that New Delhi has struck agreements with, the people said.

In India, which overtook China to become the world’s most populous country this year, the government is pushing employment pacts with developed countries facing aging workforces.

So far, India’s government has signed agreements with 13 countries, including Japan, France and the UK, and is discussing similar arrangements with the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark and Switzerland, the people said.

Ties between India and China have been tense since a border clash in 2020, the worst-ever in four decades. Both countries have moved thousands of soldiers, artillery guns and tanks to the Himalayan region since then. Diplomatic talks have made little progress with China releasing a new map in August claiming some India-controlled territories.

Three former Indian military chiefs, who stepped down last year, visited Taiwan for a security conference this year — a trip that drew objections from Beijing. Taiwan and India also have an investment promotion pact inked in 2018.

Translation

（彭博）— 據知情高級官員透露，印度正在與台灣建立更緊密的經濟聯繫，併計劃最早下個月向台灣派遣數萬名工人，這可能會激怒鄰國中國。

官員表示，台灣可以僱用多達 10 萬印度人到工廠、農場和醫院工作。由於討論是私下進行，因此要求匿名。 知情人士稱，預計雙方最早將於 12 月簽署就業流動協議。

台灣的老化社會意味著需要更多的工人，而印度的經濟成長速度不夠快，無法為每年進入勞動市場的數百萬年輕人創造足夠的就業機會。 預計到 2025 年，台灣將成為「超級老化」社會，老年人將佔總人口的五分之一以上。

然而，這項就業協議可能會加劇與中國的地緣政治緊張局勢，中國反對與台灣進行任何官方交流，台灣則是一個北京聲稱擁有主權的自治島嶼。 中國與台灣僅一水之隔，與印度接壤喜馬拉雅山。 過去二十年來，它也是印度最大的進口來源。

與台灣達成協議並不意味著印度放棄「一個中國政策」 - 這項政策承認台灣是中國的一部分。 然而，新德里並未在公開文件中重申這一立場，而是與台灣建立了積極的非官方關係。

印度外交部發言人 Arindam Bagchi 週四對記者表示，印度與台灣的就業協議目前正處於談判的最後階段。 在接受彭博新聞社採訪時，台灣勞工部沒有具體評論印度協議，但表示歡迎與能夠向其提供工人的國家合作。

知情人士稱，一項用於證明願意前往台灣的印度工人健康狀況的機制仍在製定中。

在台灣，失業率降至 2000 年以來的最低水平，政府需要工人來維持 7,900 億美元的經濟運作。 知情人士稱，台灣向印度工人提供與當地人同等的工資和保險政策，以增加交易的吸引力，這與新德里其他國家已達成的協議不同。

印度今年超越中國成為世界上人口最多的國家，政府正在推動與面臨勞動力老化問題的已開發國家簽訂就業協議。

知情人士稱，到目前為止，印度政府已與日本、法國和英國等 13 個國家簽署了協議，並正在與荷蘭、希臘、丹麥和瑞士討論類似的安排。

自2020年發生四十年來最嚴重的邊境衝突以來，印度和中國之間的關係一直緊張。 此後，兩國已向喜馬拉雅地區派遣了數千名士兵、大砲和坦克。 外交談判幾乎沒有任何進展，中國八月發布了一份新地圖，聲稱對一些印度控制的領土擁有主權。

去年卸任的三名前印度軍事首長今年訪問台灣參加安全會議，但這次訪問遭到了北京的反對。 台灣和印度也於 2018 年簽署了投資促進協議。

So, India is developing closer economic ties with Taiwan with a plan to send tens of thousands of workers to the island that would potentially anger China. Taiwan may hire as many as 100,000 Indians to work at factories, farms, and hospitals. In the eyes of China, India probably is a trouble maker.

美國稱台灣海峽是國際水道: 去否定中國說法

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

U.S. rebuffs China by calling Taiwan Strait an international waterway

Tue, June 14, 2022, 5:59 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Tuesday backed Taiwan's assertion that the strait separating the island from China is an international waterway, a further rebuff to Beijing's claim to exercise sovereignty over the strategic passage.

The Taiwan Strait has been a frequent source of military tension since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the communists, who established the People's Republic of China.

In recent years, U.S. warships, and on occasion those from allied nations such as Britain and Canada, have sailed through the strait, drawing Beijing's anger.

On Monday, China's Foreign Ministry said the country "has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait" and called it "a false claim when certain countries call the Taiwan Strait 'international waters'."

Commenting on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in an email to Reuters: "The Taiwan Strait is an international waterway, meaning that the Taiwan Strait is an area where high seas freedoms, including freedom of navigation and overflight, are guaranteed under international law."

The world has "an abiding interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and we consider this central to the security and prosperity of the broader Indo-Pacific region," Price added.

He reiterated U.S. concerns about China's "aggressive rhetoric and coercive activity regarding Taiwan" and said the United States "would continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and that includes transiting through the Taiwan Strait."

Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou called China's position a "fallacy."

On Wednesday, Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang said the strait was by "no means China's inland sea".

"China's ambition to swallow up Taiwan has never stopped or been concealed; the Taiwan Strait is a maritime area for free international navigation," he told reporters.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the government in Taipei was "cooperating with external forces to hype up the issue".

This "harms the interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and betrays the interests of the Chinese nation - it is despicable," office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said in Beijing.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and views the island as an inherent part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan says China has no right to speak for it or claim sovereignty, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their own future and that the People's Republic of China has never controlled any part of the island.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, Humeyra Pamuk and Michael Martina; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

Translation

華盛頓（路透社）- 美國周二支持台灣關於將台灣與中國隔開的海峽是國際水道的說法，這是美國進一步否定對北京聲稱對該戰略通道行使主權。

自 1949 年与共產黨內戰失敗的中華民國政府逃往台灣後, 共產黨建立中華人民共和國，台灣海峽一直是頻密軍事緊張的根源。

近年來，美國軍艦，有時還有來自英國和加拿大等盟國的軍艦，曾駛過海峽，引起了北京的憤怒。

週一，中國外交部表示，中國 “對台灣海峽擁有主權、司法權和管轄權” ， 並稱其 “某些國家稱台灣海峽為 ‘國際水域’ 是一種不正確主張” 。

美國國務院發言人 Ned Price 週二在給路透社的一封電子郵件中發表評論說： “台灣海峽是一條國際水道，這意味著台灣海峽是一個根據國際公約保障包括航行和飛越自由在內的公海自由的區域。”

Price 補充說，世界 “對台灣海峽的和平與穩定有著持久的利益，我們認為這對更廣泛的印太地區的安全與繁榮至關重要” 。

他重申了美國對中國 “在台灣問題上的咄咄逼人的言辭和脅迫活動” 的擔憂，並表示美國 “將繼續在國際法允許的任何地方飛行、航行和行動，包括通過台灣海峽” 。

週二早些時候，台灣外交部發言人 Joanne Ou 稱中國的立場是 “謬論” 。

週三，台灣總理蘇貞昌表示，海峽 “絕不是中國的內海” 。

他告訴記者: “中國吞併台灣的野心從未停止或隱瞞；台灣海峽是國際自由航行的海域” 。

中國台灣事務辦公室表示，台北政府正在 “與外部勢力合作炒作” 。

這辦公室發言人馬曉光在北京說這 “損害了海峽兩岸同胞的利益，背叛了中華民族的利益，這是卑鄙的” 。

中國從未放棄使用武力將台灣置於其控制之下，並將台灣視為中國固有領土的部分。

台灣稱中國無權為其發言或宣稱主權，稱只有台灣人民才能決定自己的未來，及中華人民共和國從未控製過台灣的任何一部分。

It is shocking to know that China's Foreign Ministry has said that China "has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Strait”. I think  Japan is also eager to make sure that the status quo of Taiwan Strait is maintained, and to turn this Strait into China's inland sea is unthinkable to me.

Taiwan - Formal application to join TPP

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

台湾 TPPへの加入を正式申請

2021年9月22日 23時17分

日本をはじめとする11か国が参加するTPP＝環太平洋パートナーシップ協定に台湾が加入を申請したことが明らかになりました。TPPをめぐっては中国も先週、加入を申請したばかりで、中国側の反発も予想されます。

これは台湾の内閣にあたる行政院の報道官が22日夜、明らかにしました。

それによりますと、台湾は22日午後、日本をはじめとする11か国が参加するTPP＝環太平洋パートナーシップ協定への加入を申請したとしています。

台湾の通信社、中央通信は、閣僚の王美花経済部長が23日、対外的な説明を行うと伝えています。

TPPをめぐっては先週、中国が加入を申請したばかりで、アジア太平洋地域での影響力を高めるねらいとみられています。

中国の加入申請が伝えられた際、王部長は台湾メディアに対し「われわれも参加国と非公式に協議をしており、機が熟せば当然、申請する」と加入に意欲を示していました。

また王部長はかねて、台湾はTPPの高い基準を満たすための法整備などを進めてきたと話していました。

ただ「中国大陸と台湾はともに1つの中国に属する」と主張する中国の反発が予想され、加入に向けた交渉がスムーズに始まるかどうかは不透明です。

外務省幹部「肯定的に受け止め」

外務省幹部はNHKの取材に対し「台湾は市場経済を採用しており、WTO＝世界貿易機関における行動の実績などに照らしてもTPP加入にあたって求められるハイレベルな基準を満たすことが期待できるのではないか。日本と共通の価値観を共有するパートナーである台湾が加入を正式に申請したことを肯定的に受け止めている」と述べました。

政府関係者「歓迎することになると思う」

日本の政府関係者は事実関係を確認中だとしたうえで「台湾は民主主義や法の支配など日本とは普遍的な価値観を共有している。TPPが求める高いレベルの基準を満たすかどうかを見極める必要があるが、基準をクリアできるのであれば、日本政府としては歓迎することになると思う。今後はこれまでの加入申請と同じように参加国と相談することになるだろう」と話しています。

また「台湾には中国のように他国に経済的な威圧をかけるなどの問題はなく、これまでもTPPに関心があるという姿勢を示していた。加入に向けた法整備などの準備もしていると見て取れるので、先週、中国が加入を申請した際の受け止めとは異なるものになるのではないか」と話しています。

そして中国と台湾の関係については「中国は一定の反応を示すと思うので、注視していきたい」と話していました。

Translation

It was revealed that Taiwan had applied for membership in the TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in which 11 countries including Japan had participated. China just applied for membership last week for the TPP, and it was expected that there would be a backlash from the Chinese side.

This was revealed on the night of the 22nd by a spokesman for the Executive Yuan, the cabinet of Taiwan.

According to a report, on the afternoon of the 22nd Taiwan applied for membership for the TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in which 11 countries including Japan participated.

Taiwanese news agency the Central News Agency (中央通訊社) said that Wang Mei-hua (王美花), the Minister of Economics, would give an external explanation on the 23rd.

China just applied for membership in the TPP last week and was expected to increase its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

When China's application for membership was announced, Minister Wang had told the Taiwanese media that, "We are also in informal discussions with participating countries, and of course, when the time is ripe, we will apply."

Minister Wang also had already said that Taiwan was working on legislation to meet the high standards of the TPP.

However, it was unclear whether negotiations for joining could start smoothly, as China's opposition in claiming that "Mainland China and Taiwan belong to one China" was expected.

Foreign Ministry executive: "to accept definitely"

An executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NHK that "Taiwan has adopted a market economy, and can be expected to meet the high-level standards required for joining the TPP in light of its track record of operation following the WTO = World Trade Organization, isn't it? We are positive in accepting Taiwan when it officially applied for membership as a partner that shares common values ​​with Japan. "

Government official: "I think it will be welcomed"

A Japanese government official said after the facts were being confirmed that "Taiwan shares universal values ​​with Japan, such as democracy and the rule of law. Does it meet the high-level standards required by TPP? It is necessary to determine whether or not, but if the standards can be met, the Japanese government will welcome it. In the future, we will consult with the participating countries in the same way as the previous applications for membership.”

Also, he said, "Taiwan has no problems such as imposing economic intimidation on other countries like China, and has shown an attitude of being interested in TPP. It is also preparing for legislation for joining. It may be different from the occasion in receiving application for membership from China last week. "

Regarding the relationship between China and Taiwan, he said, "I think China will show certain reaction, so I would like to keep an eye on it."

              So, China will flex its muscle again in joining TPP. TPP members will have a difficult task in dealing with the membership applications simultaneously from China and Taiwan.

中國警告立陶宛讓台灣開設有實無名的大使館

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

China warns Lithuania over Taiwan opening de facto embassy

Mon., July 19, 2021, 7:53 p.m.

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China warned Lithuania on Tuesday not to "send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces" after the Chinese-claimed island said it would open a de facto embassy in the Baltic country, a move the United States strongly backed.

Beijing considers the democratically-governed island to be part of "one China", and it is the country's most sensitive territorial issue.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office said it opposed any country with which it maintains diplomatic ties having official relations with Taiwan.

"We urge Lithuania to abide by the one-China principle and not to send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces," it said in a statement.

Lithuania said earlier this year it plans to open its own representative office in Taiwan, a decision that also angered Beijing. The country announced last month it would donate 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said the new mission in Vilnius would be called the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania, the first time the island's name has been used for one of its offices in Europe, as normally only "Taipei" is used.

"Taiwan and Lithuania are both at the strategic forefront of defending democratic institutions," Wu said.

"I believe that through the close connection of shared values, the two countries' peoples can work together to play a positive role in the international community and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity."

The United States welcomed the move, with its de facto embassy in Taiwan saying: "All countries should be free to pursue closer ties and greater cooperation with Taiwan, a leading democracy, a major economy, and a force for good in the world".

Only 15 countries have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but many others have de facto embassies which are often termed trade offices, as is the case for the European Union, of which Lithuania is a member state.

China has ramped up pressure on countries not to engage with Taiwan.

In February, the South American country of Guyana revoked a deal for Taiwan to open a representative office there only a day after Taipei had announced it. Taiwan blamed Chinese "bullying" for the decision.

 (Reporting by Beijing newsroom and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

Translation

北京/台北（路透社）- 繼(中國聲稱擁有的)台灣說它將在波羅的海國家開設有實無名的大使館後，中國周二警告立陶宛不要“向台獨勢力發出錯誤信號”。美國強烈支持台灣此舉。

北京認為這個由民主政府管理的台灣島嶼是“一個中國”的一部分，是中國最敏感的領土問題。

中國國台辦表示，反對任何國家與台灣有正式的外交關係。

在一份聲明中說:“我們敦促立陶宛恪守一個中國原則，不要向台獨勢力發出錯誤信號” 。

立陶宛今年早些時候表示，它計劃在台灣開設自己的代表處，這一決定也激怒了北京。該國上個月宣布將向台灣捐贈 20,000 劑 COVID-19 疫苗。

台灣外交部長吳釗燮表示，在維爾紐斯(Vilnius)的新駐立陶宛代表將被命名為台灣駐立陶宛辦事處。這是台灣在歐洲的辦事處首次使用該島的名稱，因為通常只使用“台北”。

吳釗燮表示:“台灣和立陶宛都站在捍衛民主制度的戰略最前線”。

又說:“我相信，通過共同價值觀的密切聯繫，兩國人民可以共同努力，為國際社會發揮積極作用，為世界和平、穩定與繁榮作出貢獻。”

美國對此舉表示歡迎。其駐台灣有實無名的大使館表示：“所有國家都應該自由地與台灣，一個領先的民主國家，一個主要經濟體和一股向善的力量尋求更緊密的聯繫和更大的合作”。

只有 15 個國家與台灣建立了正式的外交關係，但許多其他國家設有有實無名的大使館，通常被稱為貿易辦事處，例如歐盟。立陶宛是歐盟的成員國。

中國已加大壓力，要求各國不要與台灣接觸。

在2月，當台北宣布南美國家圭亞那會譲台灣開設代表處後僅一天, 圭亞那就撤銷那協議。對這事件, 台灣指責中國"欺淩"。

              I am interested in knowing whether Lithuania will later revoke the deal for Taiwan to open a trade office in its country too. Probably China’s foreign office is now trying hard to stop Lithuania to honor the deal.

台灣 - 儘管簽證有問題，仍保留香港辦事處

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Taiwan to maintain Hong Kong office despite visa problems

Huizhong Wu, The Associated Press

Mon., June 21, 2021, 3:01 a.m.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan says it will continue operating its de facto consulate in Hong Kong in spite of visa difficulties for its staffers while also providing consular services online.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong has been unable to get new visas for its staff after the Hong Kong government in 2018 began requiring that Taiwanese personnel at the office sign a statement accepting the “one-China principle,” Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said. The office currently has just one staffer left in Hong Kong whose visa is due to expire next month.

The one-China principle holds that Taiwan is part of China and the Communist government in Beijing is China’s sole legitimate government. Taiwan has refused to sign the statement.

The Hong Kong government also required the heads of Taiwan's trade office and tourism bureau in the city to sign a similar statement, the head of the Mainland Affairs Council said Monday.

The Hong Kong government did not impose such requirements in the past, Chiu Tai-san said. “The goal is to belittle our country and force our staff to bow their heads to the Beijing authorities," he said.

Self-rule Taiwan has called the move “political suppression” and strongly condemned the Hong Kong government's action.

Ma Xiaoguang, the spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office, which falls under China’s Cabinet, said in a statement Sunday that exchanges between Hong Kong and “Chinese Taiwan” must be based on the one-China principle.

Taipei has had a quasi-diplomatic presence in Hong Kong since Taiwan’s split with mainland China during a civil war in 1949 through Hong Kong’s handover from British colonial rule to Beijing’s control in 1997.

Macao, a semi-autonomous Chinese region, shut its representative office in Taipei last week. Hong Kong closed its office in Taipei in May, saying that Taiwan had provided assistance to “violent protesters."

Taiwan has quietly helped Hong Kong pro-democracy activists seeking asylum as many started to flee the city after China imposed a tough new national security law in June 2020 which laid the groundwork for a crackdown on protests.

Since the election of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, China has stepped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan, poaching its diplomatic allies and, starting last year, sending military planes near it on a near-daily basis.

Translation

台灣台北（美聯社）—— 台灣表示，儘管其工作人員面臨簽證困難，將繼續在香港營運其有實無名的領事館, 同時還將提供在線領事服務。

台灣大陸事務委員會說, 在香港政府於 2018 年開始要求駐港台北經濟文化辦事處的台灣人員簽署接受“一個中國原則”的聲明後，就一直無法為其工作人員獲得新簽證，辦公室目前只剩下一名工作人員留在香港，其簽證將於下個月到期。

一個中國原則認為台灣是中國的一部分，北京的共產黨政府是中國唯一的合法政府。台灣拒絕簽署聲明。

大陸事務委員會負責人周一表示，香港政府還要求台灣駐港貿易辦事處, 以及旅遊局負責人簽署類似聲明。

邱太三表示, 香港政府過去沒有強加這樣的要求。他說: “目的是貶低我們的國家，迫使我們的工作人員向北京當局低頭” 。

自治中的台灣稱此舉是“政治打壓”，並強烈譴責港府的做法。

隸屬於中國內閣的國台辦的發言人馬曉光週日在一份聲明中表示，香港與“中國台灣”的交往必須基於一個中國的原則。

自 1949 年內戰期間台灣與中國大陸分裂以來，台北一直在香港具有準外交存在。香港於 1997 年從英國殖民統治移交給北京的控制。

中國的半自治地區澳門上週關閉了在台北的代表處。香港於 5 月關閉了在台北的辦事處，聲稱台灣向 “暴力抗議者” 提供了幫助。

在中國於 2020 年 6 月實施嚴厲的新國家安全法, 作為鎮壓抗議活動奠定基礎後，許多人開始逃離這座城市，台灣悄悄地幫助了尋求庇護的香港民主活動人士。

自 2016 年台灣總統蔡英文當選以來，中國加大了對台灣的外交、經濟和軍事壓力，向其外交盟友挖角。並從去年開始幾乎每天都向台灣派出軍機。

              So, Taiwan will continue operating its de facto consulate in Hong Kong in spite of visa difficulties for its staffers, and also will continue providing consular services online to Hong Kong people.

Note:

Chiu Tai-san (Chinese: 邱太三; pinyin: Qiū Tàisān; born on 30th August 1956) is a Taiwanese lawyer and politician. In 2021, he was appointed minister of the Mainland Affairs Council. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiu_Tai-san)

Government policy - to provide AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan tomorrow

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

政府 あすにも台湾にアストラゼネカのワクチン提供する方針

2021年6月3日 18時57分

政府は新型コロナウイルスの感染が急拡大している台湾に対し、4日にもアストラゼネカのワクチン、およそ120万回分を提供する方針を固めました。

新型コロナウイルスワクチンをめぐり、政府は国内で必要な数量を上回る分をほかの国や地域に供給する方針で、菅総理大臣は2日開かれた「ワクチン・サミット」で3000万回分を供給する考えを表明しました。

こうした中、政府は5月中旬から感染が急拡大し接種の加速が課題となっている台湾に対し、4日にもワクチンを提供する方針を固めました。

提供されるのは国内では当面、公的な接種に使わない方針のアストラゼネカのワクチンで、およそ120万回分を輸送する方向で最終調整を進めています。

政府は中国が各国への積極的な供給を通じた「ワクチン外交」を展開していることも踏まえ、今後もワクチン供給を推進するとともに「コールドチェーン」と呼ばれる低温での輸送網を途上国に整備する支援にも取り組み、国際社会での存在感を示していきたい考えです。

Translation

The [Japanese] government had decided to provide about 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan on the 4th where the infection of the new coronavirus was spreading rapidly.

Regarding the new coronavirus vaccine, the government planned to supply to other countries and regions its vaccine that was more than was needed domestically, and Prime Minister Suga expressed his thoughts at the "Vaccine Summit" held on the 2^nd that he might supply 30 million doses.

As such, the government decided to provide some vaccine to Taiwan on the 4th, where the infection had spread rapidly since mid-May and  accelerated inoculation had become an issue.

About the offer for the time being in Japan, AstraZeneca's vaccine, which would not be used for public inoculation could be shipped out, and final adjustments were underway to deliver approximately 1.2 million doses.

Noting that China was developing "vaccine diplomacy" through making active supply to individual countries, the government would continue to promote vaccine supply and establish a low-temperature transportation network called "cold chain" as an effort to support the developing countries; and to show its presence in the international community.

              So, Japan is giving away its surplus vaccine to Taiwan. Although it is merely  1.2 million doses, it reflects a co-operating spirit between these two governments.

香港暫停台灣代表處的業務 - 緊張局勢升温

HK suspends operations at representative office in Taiwan as tensions rise

Sharon Tam and Yimou Lee

Reuters May 17, 2021 11:25 PM PDT

HONG KONG/TAIPEI (Reuters) -Hong Kong government's suspended on Tuesday operations at its representative office in Taiwan in a sign of escalating diplomatic tension between the global financial hub and the democratically ruled island that Beijing claims.

Tension between Hong Kong's Beijing-backed government and Taiwan have risen since pro-democracy protests erupted in Hong Kong in 2019 and China responded by imposing a sweeping national security law in the city that prompted many activists to leave, some for Taiwan.

A Hong Kong government representative did not provide an explanation for the decision to halt operations at the Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office, adding only that the decision was not related to the recent rise in coronavirus cases in Taiwan.

"The suspension is not related to the pandemic situation in Taiwan. We do not have anything further to add," the representative said in a statement.

Taiwan's government said that while it respected the decision, it also regretted it.

"We express deep regret at today's unilateral decision by the Hong Kong government," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement.

Taiwan has criticised the security law that Beijing imposed in Hong Kong and opened an office in Taipei to help people who may want to leave.

In August last year, China intercepted a boat carrying 12 people from Hong Kong, who had all faced charges related to the anti-government protests, and were apparently looking to escape to Taiwan.

Last year, Taiwan officials in Hong Kong were told their visas would not be renewed unless they signed a document supporting Beijing's claim to Taiwan under its "one China" policy, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said this month there were only eight Taiwanese staff members left at its de facto consulate in Hong Kong, and that all their visas were due to expire this year.

Hong Kong's Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said the suspension in operations meant requests for assistance from Hong Kong people in Taiwan would be handled through hotlines and via a Hong Kong government website.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of "one China" and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

China has proposed that Taiwan be brought under Chinese rule under a similar "one country two systems" arrangement it offered to Hong Kong when it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

All of Taiwan's main political parties have rejected the idea.

Hong Kong has long served as an important trade and investment conduit between Taiwan and China, which have no diplomatic relations.

The security law in Hong Kong punishes what China broadly defines as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

Critics of the law fear it will crush the wide-ranging freedoms promised when it returned to Chinese rule. Supporters say it has restored the stability that is essential for its economic success.

(Reporting by Sharon Tam in Hong Kong and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Writing by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Michael Perry, Robert Birsel)

Translation

緊張局勢加劇，香港暫停台灣代表處的業務

香港/台北（路透社）- 香港政府週二暫停了其在台灣代表處的業務，顯示這全球金融中心, 與北京宣稱擁有, 而受民主統治的島嶼之間的外交緊張局勢有升級的跡象。

自2019年在香港爆發支持民主的抗議活動以來，由北京支持的香港政府, 與台灣之間的緊張關係有所加劇。中國對抗議活動採取了全面的國家安全法，促使許多活躍分子離開，其中一些到了台灣。

關於停止在香港經濟貿易和文化辦公室開展業務的決定，一位香港政府代表沒有提出解釋, 只是補充說該決定與台灣最近出現的冠狀病毒病例增加無關。

該代表在一份聲明中說：“中止與台灣的病毒大流行情況無關。我們沒有其他內容要補充。”

台灣政府說，儘管尊重這一決定，但也感到遺憾。

台灣大陸事務委員會在一份聲明中說：“我們對香港政府今天的單方面決定深表遺憾。”

台灣曾批評北京在香港實施的安全法，並在台北開設了辦事處，以幫助可能要離開香港的人。

去年八月，中國截獲一艘從香港出發的船, 它載有十二個都已被指控與反政府抗議活動有關的人。顯然他們正在逃往台灣。

一位直接了解情事的人士告訴路透社說，去年在香港的台灣官員曾被告知，除非他們簽署文件, 去支持北京“一個中國”政策, 而北京根據它擁有台灣，否則他們的簽證將不會被續簽。

台灣大陸事務委員會本月表示，實質上駐香港的台灣領事館, 現只剩下八名台灣工作人員，他們的所有簽證都將於今年到期。

香港憲政及內地事務局表示，暫停運作意味著香港民眾在台灣的援助請求, 將通過熱線電話和香港政府網站去處理。

北京視台灣為“一個中國”的一部分，從未放棄使用武力將台灣置於其控制之下。

中國提議將台灣置於中國統治之下, 安排上類似香港於1997年回歸中國統治時, 向它實施的“一國兩制”。

台灣所有主要政黨都拒絕了這個主意。

長期以來，香港一直是台灣與中國之間沒有外交關係的重要貿易和投資渠道。

香港的安全法懲罰了中國廣義上的顛覆，分裂國家，恐怖主義和與外國勢力串通的行為，最高可判處終身監禁。

批評者擔心，該法律破壞回歸統治時, 中國曾作出的廣泛自由承諾。但支持者說，它恢復了穩定性, 對香港經濟成功至關重要。

So, Hong Kong government suspends the operations of its representative office in Taiwan. It its a sign that Hong Kong is getting more involved in the diplomatic tensions between Taiwan and Beijing. Hong Kong is more looked like a Chinese city in stead of a political neutral international hub. China’s grip on Hong Kong is getting more  direct and obvious.