On 1 April, President Tsai Ing-wen delivered a speech highlighting Taiwan’s cooperation to combat the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The president stressed that the entire nation has worked together to bring the domestic outbreak under control, and Taiwan’s efforts have received both attention and praise from the international community. The president cited Taiwan’s transformation from an importer to the world’s second-largest producer of face masks, which is already providing an ample supply to domestic demand. President Tsai pointed out conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic in each country affect all other countries. “We cannot stop the spread of COVID-19 simply by preventing an outbreak within Taiwan,” she said, adding that all members of the international community must pool their capabilities and work together to overcome this challenge.
The president highlighted Taiwan’s cooperation with many nations on rapid testing, vaccines, pharmaceutical R&D, and the country’s proactive efforts to produce materials needed to stop the spread of COVID-19. President Tsai cited discussions on prevention strategies and sharing research results with the US, EU, and Czech Republic as well as cooperative exchanges of epidemic prevention materials with Australia and the US. She added that for diplomatic allies, Taiwan will also provide assistance so that they can acquire the medical supplies they need by purchasing them locally. The president stressed Taiwan is willing to assist the international community in three areas: face masks, pharmaceuticals, and technologies. “We will donate 10 million face masks…to support medical workers in countries where the COVID-19 outbreak is particularly severe,” she stated. In terms of pharmaceuticals, the president said the government has asked firms to increase quinine production to give other countries in need of appropriate support. As for technological support, the president stressed that Taiwan will share its domestic electronic quarantine system that utilises big data analytics to aid in contact-tracing.
“We want everyone to not only see that ‘Taiwan can help,’ but that ‘Taiwan is helping’,” President Tsai stated, adding that “we want to show that Taiwan is indispensable to collective global efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19.” The president stressed that because Taiwan has kept the domestic outbreak well under control and prepared adequate supplies of necessary materials, it has the ability to cooperate with other countries and provide humanitarian aid. She concluded by encouraging countries around the globe to unite, show solidarity, provide mutual assistance, and work together to fight the coronavirus. “Taiwan is willing to exert its influence in this battle and join hands with the international community so that we can overcome this challenge together.”