Taiwan has strongly criticized China for exploiting the recent earthquake on the island for political purposes. Following expressions of sympathy from the international community regarding the earthquake, China’s deputy ambassador to the UN extended condolences to Taiwan during a discussion at the UN. However, Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned China’s actions, stating that they demonstrated China’s lack of goodwill towards Taiwan.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4, resulted in ten fatalities and over 1,000 injuries in Taiwan. The hardest-hit city, Hualien, witnessed residents opting to spend the night outdoors due to ongoing aftershocks and structural damage to buildings. Additionally, a significant rescue operation successfully evacuated six miners trapped in a gypsum quarry near the epicenter of the quake.
Despite experiencing more than 300 powerful aftershocks, Taiwan is also grappling with the challenges of repairing damaged infrastructure and ensuring public safety, particularly during the Qingming public holiday. The government has warned against potential risks of landslides or rockfalls in rural areas affected by the earthquake.
