Taiwan has pledged to donate a total of 10 million surgical masks to its diplomatic allies, 11 European countries and the U.S. for use as personal protective equipment by frontline medical personnel combating coronavirus, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement released April 1, the MOFA said providing countries most affected by COVID-19 with PPE spotlights one way Taiwan Can Help manage the pandemic.
According to the ministry, Taiwan’s embassies have already donated a million masks purchased on the open market to the nation’s diplomatic allies.
The government will send another million locally produced masks alongside forehead thermometers and infrared displays to further assist allies in their disease-fighting efforts, the MOFA said.
In addition, the ministry said seven million masks will be provided to medical professionals in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K.
Two million masks will also be shipped to the U.S, the MOFA said. This is in addition to a weekly donation of 100,000 pieces pledged under the Taiwan-U.S. epidemic prevention cooperation framework announced March 18 by Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu and American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen.
The country’s actions have received praise from around the world, according to the MOFA. Organizations and individuals voicing their appreciation include the U.S. National Security Council, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the U.S. Department of State, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei head Filip Grzegorzewski and Palau’s Representative to the U.N. Ngedikes Olai Uludong.
Much progress has already been made in enhancing global cooperation against coronavirus, the MOFA said, citing discussions on R&D of rapid testing kits and vaccines between local research institutions and those in Canada, the Czech Republic, EU and U.S.
These encouraging developments demonstrate that Taiwan should not be excluded from the international public health system, the MOFA said. The WHO should include Taiwan in all its related activities, mechanisms and meetings to help realize Health For All, it added. (SFC-E)
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