U.S. says 'go-bag' social media post tied to natural disasters

Washington, June 18 (CNA)A U.S. government spokesperson said Wednesday that Taiwan's vulnerability to natural disasters was why a U.S. representative office in Kaohsiung recently posted on social media encouraging people in Taiwan to prepare a "go bag" for emergencies.

The response came after a June 11 Facebook post by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Kaohsiung Branch sparked widespread discussion in Taiwan, with some speculating that the U.S. might have intelligence suggesting China could be preparing to take military action against Taiwan.

In the post, AIT's Kaohsiung branch shared tips on preparing a "go bag" with essentials like important documents and a first aid kit.

An unnamed State Department spokesperson told CNA the post was simply a reminder for people in Taiwan to prepare for natural disasters.

"Taiwan is located in a region prone to natural disasters. Whether it's encouraging individual disaster preparedness for earthquakes or for typhoons, the United States supports Taiwan's whole-of-society resilience efforts," the unnamed State Department spokesperson told CNA in an email.

Asked to comment, two former top AIT officials downplayed speculation that the post was a warning of an imminent military threat.

Brent Christensen, who led AIT Taipei from summer 2018 to summer 2022, said he "would not interpret AIT Kaohsiung's information on a 'go bag' for emergencies as anything significant."

"This is just a restatement of a longstanding recommendation that U.S. citizens living overseas be ready for any kind of emergency that would require them to evacuate quickly, whether it's a major natural disaster, political instability, or some other serious safety concern," he said.

He added that overseas posts like AIT have some leeway to create their own messaging, as long as it aligns with overall U.S. government policy.

Robert Wang, AIT deputy director from 2006 to 2009, said he had no idea why the Kaohsiung office shared the information online and declined to speculate.