Taiwan hosts international anti-disaster workshop with Japan, US
TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- Taiwan co-hosted an international workshop on Monday with Japan, the United States, Australia and Canada to promote collaborative solutions for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, bringing together over 100 participants from more than 30 countries and regions.
At an opening ceremony of the three-day event in Taipei, Mami Mizutori, former special representative of the U.N. secretary general for disaster risk reduction, stressed the need for all sectors of society to engage in anti-disaster efforts.
"As risk is everyone's business, we need to tackle disaster risk management as a whole of society. And there is no partnership which is not relevant," Mizutori said, calling for collaboration with the private sector, including insurance, telecommunications and technology companies.
"I firmly believe that governments need to be proactive in fostering and supporting diverse partnerships," said Mizutori, who headed the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction between 2018 and 2023.
The workshop was held under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, a Taiwan-U.S. platform launched in 2015 to address global and regional challenges. Japan joined in 2019, followed by Australia and Canada.
Both Taiwan and Japan are frequently hit by natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. The self-ruled democratic island maintains unofficial ties with the four other members that jointly run programs under the cooperation framework.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Nikkei Asia
23 minutes ago
- Nikkei Asia
China pushes ceasefire at UN as Asia echoes call to end Iran war
The United Nations Security Council meets after the U.S attack on Iran's nuclear sites, at U.N. headquarters in New York on June 22. © Reuters Nikkei staff writers TOKYO -- China's ambassador to the United Nations issued a fresh rebuke of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at an emergency Security Council meeting, as governments across Asia warily assessed a new era in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to enter the Israel-Iran conflict by bombing three key nuclear sites over the weekend "seriously violated the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, infringed upon Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, aggravated tensions in the Middle East and severely impacted the international nuclear non-proliferation system," Ambassador Fu Cong said on Sunday at the U.N. in New York, according to China's Xinhua state news agency.
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Nippon Steel Reports U.S. Steel Acquisition to Japan Minister; Akazawa Hopes to Get Advice Ahead of U.S. Tariff Talks
Nippon Steel Corp. Chairman Eiji Hashimoto spoke with economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa on Monday about United States Steel Corp. becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Steel. 'I'd like for you to tell me how I can conduct successful negotiations,' said Akazawa, who is in charge of tariff negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Hashimoto said, '[The acquisition agreement] matched the objectives of our company, as we want to develop our business in the United States, and the Trump administration, which wants to revive the U.S. manufacturing industry.' 'It took a year and a half [from when it was first announced], but mutual trust and understanding have deepened,' Hashimoto added. 'I hope this will help Japan-U.S. cooperation.' With no agreement on tariffs between Japan and the United States in sight, Akazawa said: 'We hope to have the tariff negotiations head in a more positive direction. I would like to ask you to give us some advice regarding negotiations.' Nippon Steel President Tadashi Imai and Vice Chairman Takahiro Mori were also present at the meeting.
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Thailand Blocks Tourists from Entering Cambodia as Their Border Tensions Soar
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand began imposing land border restrictions Monday including blocking tourists heading into Cambodia as the two countries engage in retaliation in their border dispute. Relations between the countries have deteriorated following an armed confrontation May 28 in which one Cambodian soldier was killed in a relatively small, contested territory. While the two sides have agreed to de-escalate their dispute, they continue to implement or threaten measures that have kept tensions high. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said Monday that Thailand will boost screening at land borders and block departing tourists, saying that only students, medical patients and others who need to purchase essential goods would be allowed to enter or leave Thailand. She said the measures were aimed at blocking people heading toward Cambodia's lucrative casinos, but it appeared that all tourists would be blocked. The Thai army said in a statement later Monday that it had implemented the measures at every land border checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia in five provinces, and that it was stopping all crossings except for people with essential needs. Cambodia, for its part, has boycotted some Thai internet services, and blocked electricity and fuel supplies from Thailand in response to the border dispute. Prior to the boycott, Cambodia imported 30% of its gasoline and other fuel from Thailand. Paetongtarn also said Monday that Thailand will consider blocking exports that could facilitate scam operations in Cambodia and will coordinate with other countries and international agencies to crack down on cybercrime based in Southeast Asia. Thailand earlier this year implemented measures aimed at cracking down on online scam operations in neighboring Myanmar, severing electricity, internet and gas supplies to border towns where the scams were based. Paetongtarn's comments suggested Thailand would soon impose similar measures aimed at similar scam operations in Cambodia. An April U.N. report named Cambodia as a hub for scam operations in which workers go online to lure victims through false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes. Paetongtarn has been attacked over her perceived soft stance toward Cambodia, especially by right-wing nationalists who are longtime foes of her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. A phone call leaked last week between Paetongtarn and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, the former prime minister who ruled Cambodia over four decades, sparked outrage and calls for Paetongtarn's resignation. Critics said she tried to appease Hun Sen, a longtime friend of her father, and made Thailand look weak by calling a Thai army commander in charge of the disputed border area as 'an opponent.' Several nationalist activist groups have planned a rally this week to demand Paetongtarn's resignation.
