Taiwan promised to help the world in combating the COVID-19, including its neighbor, Japan. (Image via The Taiwan Times)

Taiwan to donate masks to Japan

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
International
Apr 17, 2020
2918
Taiwan will donate face masks to Japan, the neighboring country hit hard by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The island in outer China intends to show that it will do everything it can to help Japan and the world tackle the pandemic.

Currently, Japan has announced a state of national emergency in Tokyo and six other prefectures. It aims to cut people-to-people interaction by 70 percent. So far, at least 200 deaths and more than 9,000 infections had been recorded.

Due to the objections to China, Taiwan is being locked out of the World Health Organization (WHO). However, Taiwan is keen to fulfill its responsibility as a member of the international community under the slogan “Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping”. All along, Taiwan is seen as a Chinese province.

About 16 million masks will be donated to the countries hit the hardest by the virus. That includes the United States (U.S) and the European continent. For Japan’s portion, Taiwan is sending two million masks for the front line medical workers, according to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.

For Taiwan, Japan shares the same value and important friends at “all levels”. Historically speaking, Japan ruled Taiwan between 1895 and 1945.

By the donation, Taiwan hopes to strengthen the bilateral ties with Japan which will include the research and development of vaccines and exchanges between medical experts.

Like all countries, Japan has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, only unofficial ones.

Source: https://bit.ly/2VdpnCq

Politics , Medical , Health , Pandemic , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Asia , Japan , Taiwan