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U.S., Japan did not decline sending helicopters: deputy FM

ROC Central News Agency

2009/08/14 21:58:12
Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia on Friday rebutted an earlier statement by the defense minister that the U.S. and Japan had declined to provide Taiwan with helicopters to assist in disaster relief efforts, saying that the two countries were still assessing the possibility.

Defense Minister Chen Chao-min said earlier Friday that the U.S.

and Japan would not offer Taiwan specialized helicopters capable of transporting heavy payloads because they did not have the range to fly to Taiwan from Guam, where the U.S. helicopters are stationed, or Japan.

But Hsia said the two countries have initially responded positively to Taiwan's requests for assistance to help with rescue and relief operations in the wake of Typhoon Morakot, and that the helicopters were still on the table.

“From what I know, they are still assessing the possibilities.

The U.S. and Japan did not say that such a requirement is not doable.

Everything is still under negotiation, ”Hsia told reporters after attending a ceremony to celebrate Singapore's 44th National Day.

Asked how the international community is responding to Taiwan’s list of disaster relief needs, Hsia said that the Foreign Ministry has received a very positive response but will wait for individual governments to announce what they can provide.

Naohiro Tsutsumi, director-general of the Taipei Office of the Interchange Association -- the de facto Japanese embassy in Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic relations -- told the Central News Agency that he would not comment on specific listed items but said Japan is weighing all the requirements.

“Japan is now in the process of considering the possibility of our response to the requirements. We have to wait for Tokyo to reach a conclusion,”Tsutsumi said.

Japan responded quickly to news of the devastation that Typhoon Morakot wrought in southern Taiwan by expressing condolences to the victims, making a donation of 10 million Japanese yen to disaster relief efforts and offering to provide additional assistance if necessary.

After being lambasted by the media over the past few days for declining offers of foreign assistance, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) apologized Friday for telling its overseas representative offices to politely decline international assistance such as supplies and rescuers in the wake of Typhoon Morakot, describing it as a technical error made out of negligence.

Tsutsumi, however, dismissed media reports that Japan's offer of aid was rejected by Taiwan, saying that his country always understood that Taiwan would have to first clarify its needs before approaching the international community.

He noted that Junzo Yamamoto, the Japanese delegation leader of the Japan-based Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’Union that opened its 40th annual conference in Taipei Aug. 11, told President Ma Ying-jeou earlier in the week that Japan had the intention to help, an offer that was well received by Ma, who thanked Tokyo for the offer.

"It's very strange to interpret Ma's response as a rejection, ” Tsutsumi said.“We don't think so.” "Japan remains very willing and happy to help Taiwan, as it is one of the most important and friendly countries of Japan in the region,”he added.

(By Rachel Chan) Enditem/ls