Taiwan donated 35,000 locally manufactured forehead thermometers and 250 automatic temperature measurement systems to the country’s allies, Germany and the U.S. during a ceremony April 24 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Taipei City.
Presiding over the event, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu praised the generosity of New Taipei City-based equipment manufacturer TaiDoc Technology Corp. for providing the devices. Such public-private sector partnerships are invaluable in helping to combat coronavirus, he said.
Other speakers at the ceremony included St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador Jasmine Elise Huggins, American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen and German Institute Taipei Director General Thomas Prinz.
Huggins said Taiwan’s effective measures for managing the COVID-19 pandemic have earned global recognition. The support for its friends around the world is especially valued at this difficult time, she added.
Echoing her remarks, Christensen said the Taiwan Model of disease control has proven the effectiveness of transparent information sharing, strict immigration controls, and active contact tracing and testing. He added Taiwan has again proved itself a reliable partner of the U.S.
Prinz cited a letter from Germany’s Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn sent to Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung a day earlier expressing appreciation for Taiwan’s donation of surgical masks. Both sides have a strong relationship founded on mutual trust and friendship, he said, adding that Taiwan’s expertise and experience are informing Germany’s own efforts to overcome coronavirus.
Taiwan has ramped up donations of medical supplies like surgical masks, forehead thermometers and infrared displays in recent months to meet global demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients include the country’s diplomatic allies, New Southbound Policy target countries, Switzerland, the EU, the U.K. and the U.S. (YCH-E)
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