内容摘要：An American flag is posted near destroyed homes after a tornado passed through the area on May 17, 2025, in London, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

An American flag is posted near destroyed homes after a tornado passed through the area on May 17, 2025, in London, Ky. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Lai said Taiwan would continue to, both through foreign military procurement and domestic arms development, and stand “shoulder to shoulder” with its allies “to exert deterrent power.”

“We will prepare adequately to avoid war and achieve the goal of peace,” he said.He kept open the possibility of talks with Beijing, saying that “Taiwan is very willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China” as long as there is mutual respect and dignity.Taiwan’s economy is supported by massive semiconductor firms that supply microchips globally as well as other electronics, advanced manufacturing and green tech makers.

Lai said he would continue to encourage foreign investment in Taiwan, citing Monday’s announcement by American technology company Nvidia about opening a new office in northern Taipei.Nvidia’s Taiwan-born CEO Jensen Huang also announced his company would build an artificial intelligence supercomputer on the island in partnership with chipmaker TSMC, tech firm Foxconn and the Taiwanese government.

He also backed increased investments by Taiwanese firms in the U.S.

In March, TSMC responded to Trump’s tariff threats byPeople were also forced to relocate at two other county schools on Tuesday. Allegany County Public Schools said 12 students stayed overnight at Mountain Ridge High School before being picked up Wednesday morning. County schools were closed Wednesday.

Emergency officials said no one had been reported missing or injured, but residents were urged to stay home anyway because several secondary roads had been washed out.The Potomac River remained within its banks, with only minor flooding reported and conditions generally improving, officials said. Crews were assessing damage after water receded in the Georges Creek area.

By Wednesday afternoon, the sun was shining and many residents had already spent hours scraping, shoveling and hauling massive quantities of mud. Crews used heavy equipment to clear mud from the streets and carted it away by dump truck.They started cleaning out the town’s library and a fire station, where receding floodwaters left behind a thick layer of sludge. From backhoes to mops, people grabbed whatever they could find and pitched in.