Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

Navy needs updated minesweepers

Chang Feng-lin 張豐麟

A large number of naval mines were last month detected in Black Sea coastal areas. Kyiv accused Russia of laying the mines to blockade Ukraine’s sea ports, saying that they were the same type that had been stored at a Sevastopol armory that was seized by the Russian military during its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The Kremlin in turn accused Ukraine of laying more than 420 mines in the Black Sea to keep Russian warships from reaching its ports.

While neither side has claimed responsibility, drifting mines have appeared in the Bosphorus Strait — a major commercial shipping lane that connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing vessels registered to a number of regional nations, including Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine, have reported discovering mines in the Bosphorus, which led to the waterway being temporarily closed at the end of last month.

Ukraine thanks Taipei for support

Taipei Times

The Ukrainian parliament in a Telegram post thanks Taiwan for its support following a “die-in” protest in Taipei on Sunday. Photo: Screen grab from Telegram

The Ukrainian parliament on Monday expressed its gratitude for Taiwan’s support amid the Russian invasion.

The Verkhovna Rada in a Telegram post said that Taiwan has supported Ukraine “from the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion.”

US troops should be based in Taiwan, Bolton says

Taipei Times

Former US national security advisor John Bolton delivers a speech over videolink during the Global Taiwan National Affairs Symposium forum on Saturday.
Photo: screen grab from the Internet

Former US national security adviser John Bolton on Saturday called for US troops to be stationed in Taiwan, harkening back to the allies’ arrangement prior to 1979.

Given the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Bolton called for Taiwan to be protected through political and military deterrence.

Taiwan, Poland ties face challenges

Marcin Jerzewski 葉皓勤

Relations between Taiwan and Poland are on an upward trajectory. Since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, we have witnessed the close cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Polish institutions aimed at facilitating humanitarian relief efforts for Ukrainian people affected by the war.

Additionally, the recent inauguration of the Taiwan-Poland Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, led by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), is an important step toward further institutionalization of relations between Taipei and Warsaw.

Consequently, these recent positive developments provide an opportunity to identify obstacles that still hinder bilateral ties and explore new avenues for Taiwanese-Polish cooperation.

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