離開
進入《TAIPEI TIMES》 Tsai, world leaders pay tribute to Elizabeth
An image of Queen Elizabeth II is yesterday projected onto a sail of the Sydney Opera House following her passing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
/ Staff writer, with CNA
President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） yesterday paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday aged 96.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the Royal Family, the United Kingdom & the Commonwealth on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” Tsai wrote on social media. “Taiwan remembers and celebrates her life of leadership and service, which set an example for people around the world.”
Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, British officials said in a statement.
Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang （張惇涵） said her death was a “great loss” to the UK and the international community.
Chang said Taiwan and the UK are “of one heart and mind,” and would remember the queen’s “life-long contributions to the world’s peace and prosperity.”
During her seven decades as queen, the UK remained the backbone of the global democratic alliance, Chang said, adding that Taiwan would continue working with the UK for their common values in the face of authoritarian expansion.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had expressed the government’s condolences to the queen’s son, who became King Charles III with the passing of his mother, the British royal family, the British government and the Commonwealth through its representative office in London.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu （吳釗燮） talked to British Representative to Taiwan John Dennis by telephone to express condolences, the ministry said.
The queen was placed under “medical supervision” on Thursday evening, and her family rushed to Scotland, where she had spent much of her summer, to be by her side, British media reported.
With the queen’s passing, her 73-year-old son became the head of state of the UK and 14 other realms, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） on Facebook offered its condolences to the royal family, the UK and members of the Commonwealth over the passing of the “beloved” queen.
“In memory of Queen Elizabeth’s contributions to the UK and the world, [the KMT] pays its highest respects,” it said. “May the queen rest in peace.”
KMT Chairman Eric Chu （朱立倫） said on Facebook that the world “has lost a great monarch and a witness to history.”
The Taiwanese officials joined tributes to the queen from around the world.
In a joint statement with his wife, US President Joe Biden said the queen was a “stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.”
The Bidens later went to the British embassy in Washington to offer condolences.
“We mourn for all of you. She was a great lady,” Biden could be heard telling embassy staff.
In France, officials ordered flags at the presidential palace and public buildings be lowered to half-staff.
French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her “immutable moral authority” and her intimate knowledge of French.
He said no other foreign sovereign had visited the presidential palace more often than Elizabeth, who had known all eight presidents of contemporary France.
“The woman who stood alongside the giants of the 20th century on the path of history has left to join them,” Macron said.
Tributes flowed also in places where the relationship with the British monarchy is complicated.
In New Delhi, once the capital of the British Raj, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Elizabeth “a stalwart of our times.”
“She personified dignity and decency in public life,” Modi said.
In Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was having trouble believing he had had his last sit-down chat with Elizabeth.
“I will so miss those chats,” Trudeau said.
He added the queen’s “service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping （習近平） sent his condolences, noting that Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit China.
Elizabeth’s death comes amid increasingly tense relations between Britain and China.
Xi said he was willing to work with King Charles III on promoting “healthy and stable” bilateral ties.
Additional reporting by AP and Shih Hsiao-kuang
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
