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Review of citizen evacuation policy for Taiwan not needed: White House

ROC Central News Agency

06/13/2023 11:29 AM

Washington, June 12 (CNA) A White House spokesman said the U.S. had "no indication" that the situation in Taiwan warrants a review of its policy of not evacuating private American citizens from areas of conflict, but did not say whether planning for such a contingency was taking place.

On Monday, the news website The Messenger reported that the U.S. government is preparing evacuation plans for American citizens living in Taiwan, citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter.

One of the sources, identified as a senior U.S. intelligence official, told the outlet that planning had been underway for at least six months but had "heated up" over the last two months.

Another of the sources said Russia's invasion of Ukraine had served as an impetus for the planning, by driving a "relook" at what plans are in place.

Asked about the report at a press briefing Monday, John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said it was not routine U.S. policy to evacuate private American citizens from areas of conflict.

"And there is no indication at this time that current conditions in Taiwan would warrant any reconsideration of that policy," he said.

At the same time, Kirby said, the U.S. takes seriously its responsibility for the safety of its citizens and personnel abroad, and has "routine procedures in place to make sure that we're prepared for any type of emergency."

In a separate response to the report, Taiwan's representative office in the United States noted that the subject of evacuation planning came up in March, when Taiwanese media reported on a message sent to U.S. citizens by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

In that case, the AIT subsequently explained the message was sent out after the devastating earthquake in Turkey, and was intended to remind U.S. citizens to prepare in advance for any kind of potential disaster, the representative office said.

The Feb. 10 message, which is available on the AIT's website, reminded U.S. citizens that Taiwan is in a "region prone to disasters," and encouraged them to enroll in the State Department's registry for citizens living abroad and to have a "go-bag" ready in case of emergency.

(By Chiang Chin-yeh and Matthew Mazzetta)

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