On behalf of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Acting Director-General Daniel Hung of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta (TECO in Atlanta) donated 100,000 medical masks to the State of Georgia on Tuesday, April 21st. The donation was delivered from Taiwan directly to the medical warehouse of the Georgia Department of Public Health in Kennesaw, where it was received by Deputy Director Charles Dawson of Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security (GEMA), who has been tasked with distributing the masks to front line medical personnel.
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia sent a letter to President Tsai Ing-wen, in which he thanked Taiwan for its generous donation of medical equipment. Governor Kemp expressed that “it is the long-standing friendships we have with international partners like Taiwan that will help us confront and overcome this pandemic.” He also praised President Tsai “It is an honor to stand alongside you as you continue to set the standard for camaraderie and support within the international community.” Governor Kemp also looked to the future of the international partnership, asking “how the State of Georgia can further support [Taiwan’s] efforts.”
U.S. Senator Kelly Leoffler of Georgia thanked President Tsai Ing-wen and the people of Taiwan for donating 100,000 masks for hospitals across the Peach State. Senator Leoffler stated in her press release: “For over 40 years, the people of Georgia and Taiwan have enjoyed a special relationship and I appreciate Taiwan offering a helping hand at such a difficult time.” Senator David Perdue of Georgia also posted recognition on Twitter on April 10th, thanking Taiwan for its assistance to the State of Georgia.
Georgia State Representative Matt Dollar and State Senator Brandon Beach each expressed thankfulness for Taiwan’s donation as well. Representative Dollar said he was “incredibly grateful” and that the “medical face masks will allow Georgians who are working on the front lines to combat COVID-19 to continue to serve our state. This donation from the Taiwanese people is an important reminder that no matter where we are, we are all in this fight together.”
This donation was a part of Taiwan’s second wave of humanitarian assistance and global partnership, which included 6 million masks globally, 1 million of which went to the United States and 100,000 to Georgia specifically. Acting Director-General Daniel Hung of TECO in Atlanta expressed that Taiwan recognizes the drastic impact of COVID-19 in Georgia, which led to this donation to assist healthcare workers. As President Tsai Ing-wen stated in her interview with Time Magazine, “COVID-19 is a humanitarian disaster that requires the joint efforts of all countries.” Hence, Taiwan is pleased to fulfill President Tsai’s promise of helping its international partners who are in urgent need of supplies.
Taiwan is happy to offer support in this time of need to its sister-state of Georgia, which it has enjoyed a friendly alliance with for more than three decades, and to the whole of the United States, especially given President Trump’s recent signing of the TAIPEI Act on March 26th. Taiwan would like to thank the U.S. Congress, Senate, and Executive Office for its support of this act, which encourages Taiwan’s international participation. Taiwan believes this is just the beginning of a prosperous bilateral partnership, in which the United States and Taiwan can work together to solve both current and future crises.
In late March, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office began to contact the Governor's Office and legislative leaders to inquire about the quantity of personal protective equipment needed in Georgia. TECO in Atlanta then reported relevant information back to Taipei in preparation for the provision of such medical equipment.
Since around that time, Taiwan has been in the midst of combating the COVID-19 outbreak and manufacturing pandemic prevention supplies, such as face masks and isolation gowns. Taiwan feels strong solidarity with the people of Georgia and would like to assist as much as we can.
Taiwan’s actions in containing this pandemic have been widely recognized and lauded internationally. Years of exclusion from the WHO system combined with invaluable lessons learned from the 2003 SARS pandemic prompted Taiwan to take effective preventive response measures against COVID-19. Taiwan is willing and capable of utilizing our strengths in manufacturing, medicine, and technology in order to work alongside the world. In any way that Taiwan can help, Taiwan is helping.
Taiwan has also received praise for its humanitarian efforts. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Taiwan for its pledge to donate 2 million surgical face masks to the U.S. in a Twitter post and praised it as a global model for combating COVID-19.
Through its humanitarian efforts in fighting COVID-19, Taiwan demonstrates the compassion and determination of its government and people, reaffirming its sincere commitment to taking part in international affairs. Epidemic prevention and containment transcends national borders. Countries cannot fight COVID-19 alone. A strong defense against the disease can only be built through close collaboration for mutual benefit. As the international community endeavors to strengthen mechanisms to combat COVID-19, Taiwan stands willingly and able to collaborate with other countries, in order to give valuable assistance in overcoming the pandemic. Taiwan will continue to take concrete and substantive measures to prove that Taiwan can help and will help to the best of its abilities.
