October 10, Tuesday, 2023

1. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen called for peaceful coexistence with China in her address on Tuesday to mark Double Tenth Day, which Taiwan considers its national day. Speaking in front of the presidential office building in Taipei, Tsai said, “It is my duty as president to safeguard our national sovereignty and the democratic and free way of life of the 23 million people of Taiwan.” 2. The Japanese government is pushing for a shift to sea and rail freight as part of its strategy to address a truck driver shortage. One firm in central Japan has started loading its cargo on a specially designed type of ship as part of this transition. Shizuoka Prefecture-based Suzuyo is using vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo. This allows for the shipments to be easily rolled off and attached to trucks at their destinations. 3. The leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy have expressed support for Israel and its right to defend itself from attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.