September 9, 2022
No. 240
Buckingham Palace announced on September 8 that Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom had passed away that day at Balmoral Castle, her residence in Scotland, at the age of 96. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) promptly instructed the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom to extend sincere condolences on her passing on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, and to convey deepest and heartfelt sympathies to her successor, King Charles III, other members of her family, the UK government, and the people of the Commonwealth. Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu also called Representative John Dennis of the British Office in Taiwan to express his condolences.
Queen Elizabeth II held the throne for 70 years after her coronation in 1953 and was the world’s longest-reigning female monarch. She was also the United Kingdom’s longest-lived monarch, as well as the first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. She devoted her long life to her royal duties and was an enthusiastic supporter of charitable endeavors. Her virtues and deeds earned her the love of the British people and the respect of the world. The passing of Queen Elizabeth II marks a tremendous loss not only for the government and people of the United Kingdom, but also for the international community, for which she served as an outstanding leader. (E)