Taipei: Premier Cho Jung-tai on Monday instructed relevant ministries to coordinate assistance for Taiwanese shipping firms whose vessels are stranded due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the United States.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Cabinet released a statement indicating that the premier convened a meeting to address the situation, citing Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) data. Approximately 1,600 vessels from various countries are currently stranded in the maritime standoff, including eight operated by Taiwanese shipping companies.
Premier Cho has tasked the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to work closely with MOFA to maintain contact with foreign governments and the involved Taiwanese shipping firms. The coordination aims to communicate assistance measures that could help the stranded vessels resume normal operations swiftly. However, the premier did not specify what these measures might entail.
Foreign media reports have noted that U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States would start guiding commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the vital shipping lane remains operational.
Additionally, Premier Cho assured that Taiwan has adequate resources to manage potential supply chain disruptions. He highlighted that Taiwan has a stockpile of 61,000 tonnes of asphalt, sufficient to meet the monthly domestic demand of 19,000 tonnes through July. The government is also aiding manufacturers in securing raw materials for plastic bags to maintain stable inventory levels.