Victor Tseng

Victor Tseng (´¿¼y·½), director general of the ministry's Department of West Asian Affairs, noted Georgia's strategic importance but did not elaborate on the "new relationship."

Victor Tseng, director of the ministry's Department of Western Asian Affairs, said there were about 35 Taiwanese in Lebanon and 40 in Israel.So far, no Taiwanese casualties have been reported, he added.The director said most of the Taiwanese expatriates were women married to foreigners, and their children.Tseng said that as it is currently summer vacation, many of the Taiwanese families who live in Beirut were spending their holidays elsewhere.However, a woman surnamed Lo and three of her children were evacuated from Beirut last Sunday to Amman, Jordan, with the assistance of Taiwan's diplomatic staff in Jordan.Another Taiwanese woman, surnamed Chen, did not plan to leave Beirut as she said her residence was in a relatively safe part of the city.

Victor Tseng, director of the MOFA's Department of West Asian Affairs, said the ministry has instructed its representative offices in the Middle East to closely watch developments in the fighting, and that so far no reports from the area indicate any Taiwanese have been killed or injured during the violence.

Tseng made the remarks during a news conference in which the MOFA explained its current measures to protect Taiwanese expatriates in a war zone.

As Taiwan has no liaison office in Lebanon, Tseng said the ministry has asked the representative offices in Jordan and Israel to help expatriates in Lebanon.

Tseng said there are around 35 Taiwanese residing in Lebanon, most of whom are women and children, while in Israel there are some 40 Taiwanese expatriates and business executives.

Victor Tseng, director of the ministry's Department of Western Asian Affairs, said there were about 35 Taiwanese in Lebanon and 40 in Israel.

So far, no Taiwanese casualties have been reported, he added.

The director said most of the Taiwanese expatriates were women married to foreigners, and their children.

Tseng said that as it is currently summer vacation, many of the Taiwanese families who live in Beirut were spending their holidays elsewhere.

However, a woman surnamed Lo and three of her children were evacuated from Beirut last Sunday to Amman, Jordan, with the assistance of Taiwan's diplomatic staff in Jordan.

Another Taiwanese woman, surnamed Chen, did not plan to leave Beirut as she said her residence was in a relatively safe part of the city.

A third woman, surnamed Chiang, who has dual Taiwanese-Canadian citizenship, had just recently delivered a baby by cesarean section and planned to stay in Beirut for the time being, the official said.

Tseng said the Taiwanese in Israel were all safe and sound, except for one female Taiwanese national surnamed Hsiao, whose neighborhood had been frequently bombarded.

"Ms. Hsiao has moved with her Israeli family to an air-raid shelter and so far has no plans to leave the country," Tseng said, citing a report from Taiwan's representative office in Tel-Aviv.