TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) convened a Cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss Taiwan’s preparedness and response to the Middle East conflict, pledging to safeguard financial markets and ensure stable energy prices, per CNA.
Cho activated an interagency response team to coordinate energy supply sources and strengthen monitoring of global oil and gas markets. He also tasked Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (卓榮泰) with convening a price stabilization meeting to undertake necessary preparations to curb potential inflationary pressures.
The meetings followed large-scale airstrikes by the US and Israel against Iran. The strikes resulted in the deaths of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials.
In response to the rapidly evolving situation, Cho canceled previously scheduled public engagements on Monday to meet with key Cabinet members. A government press release said the Financial Supervisory Commission reported that stock and foreign exchange market volatility remains within an expected and controllable range.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Energy Administration warned that international oil and gas prices and supplies could fluctuate amid rising geopolitical tensions. Cho instructed the agency to conduct more in-depth analyses and prepare contingency measures.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reported that all overseas representative offices in affected areas have activated emergency response mechanisms and are maintaining close contact with Taiwanese citizens. The ministry said it is assisting tourists and tour groups stranded due to regional instability.
MOFA on Saturday raised its travel alerts for Israel and Iran to “red,” the highest level, advising against all travel. Late Sunday, it elevated travel alerts for Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar from yellow to orange, the second-highest level, urging Taiwanese to avoid nonessential travel.
The ministry said it has contacted approximately 3,000 Taiwanese nationals in the Middle East and confirmed they are safe. It urged Taiwanese in the region who require assistance to contact Taiwan’s representative offices.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Administration said more than 2,000 Taiwanese travelers have been affected by airspace closures in the region. This includes 1,208 people stranded overseas due to flight cancellations, with another 851 travelers forced to cancel planned tours.
After hearing briefings from multiple ministries, Cho directed agencies to respond prudently to the unpredictable nature of the conflict and to closely monitor international developments.
