Taiwan goes dark amid mass power outages

ISTANBUL

The Taiwanese presidential office had to cancel online streaming of President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as the self-ruled island nation underwent a power breakdown.

“While the presidential office wasn't affected by the island-wide power outage, they had to cancel the online streaming of Tsai's meeting with former US secretary of state @mikepompeo, who is currently visiting Taiwan,” Taipei-based Journalist Willian Yang said on Twitter.

“Widespread power outages were reported across Taiwan on Thursday,” official news outlet Focus Taiwan reported.

The cities of Taipei, New Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Changhua, Hualien and Miaoli faced the electricity breakdown.

The main power distributor Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) said: “The outages were caused by an equipment malfunction at the Hsinta Power Plant in Kaohsiung.”

Journalist Willian added the power outage “has nothing to do with any ‘hacking’ as the state-run power company has indicated.”

“It is a pure facility malfunction that has happened before. Please stop the unnecessary conspiracy or false speculation,” he said on Twitter.

Taipower said the electricity “is currently entirely cut off in all areas in Kaohsiung and Tainan while rotating outages are being imposed in northern and central Taiwan.”

Pompeo is visiting Taiwan along with his wife for four days.

President Tsai presented him the top civilian award, Order of Brilliant Star, with Special Grand Cordon “in recognition of his longstanding support for Taiwan's international participation and outstanding contribution to advancing Taiwan-US relations.”

Pompeo landed in Taipei soon after a US delegation of former security officials ended their trip to Taiwan.

The delegation was sent by US President Joe Biden to express support to Taiwan as the Russia-Ukraine war entered its eighth day on Thursday.

As the world focuses on the Russia-Ukraine war, observers are also closely watching China's moves regarding Taiwan, which it sees as a breakaway province.

Taipei, however, has insisted on its independence since 1949 and maintains diplomatic relations with at least 14 countries.