Respirator diplomacy of Taiwan

Respirator diplomacy of Taiwan refers to the exchange of masks between Taiwan and other countries, aimed to help the Global Coronavirus Response.

Background
President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen visits a mask factory

After the outbreak of COVID-19, the global demand for face masks increased rapidly. By the end of January 2020, the Taiwanese Government pushed out a series of decisions on masks, included export restrictions, forced appropriation and investments, to allow Taiwan to become the second largest mask exporter globally. By March 2020, Taiwan successfully increased its production of face masks from 1.88 million to 10 million units per day, carried out rationing, and became one of the largest markets for imports second only to Mainland China.[1][2] In the middle of May, face mask production has increased to 20 million units per day.[3]

It also launched a hospital ship through the Pacific, providing ventilators and masks to nations unable to obtain medical support from other sources, like Palau.[4]

In July 2021, Taiwan donated 150,000 masks to the Brazilian state of Goiás.[5]

Diplomatic endowment

On 1 April 2020, President Tsai Ing-wen announced that Taiwan would donate 10 million masks to countries severely affected by the pandemic, including America and Europe, along with any other nation that has established full diplomatic relations with Taiwan.[6]

According to the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry, as of July 2021, more than 54 million masks had been donated to over 80 countries since early 2020.[5]

Reactions

Reactions from the European Union

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, send a message on Twitter to thank the contributions made by Taiwan.

 Ursula von der Leyen Twitter
@vonderleyen

The European Union thanks Taiwan for its donation of 5.6 million masks to help fight the #coronavirus. We really appreciate this gesture of solidarity. This global virus outbreak requires international solidarity & cooperation. Acts like this show that we are #StrongerTogether.

Apr 1, 2020[7]

See also

References
  1. 陳莉雅 (2020-03-16). "如何讓本土口罩自給自足？一次「台灣共同體」的強制與光榮總動員". Initium Media.
  2. 李宗憲 (2020-03-05). "台灣2020口罩之戰：總人口2300萬日產量挑戰1000萬". BBC中文.
  3. 新頭殼 (16 May 2020). "口罩產量躍進 經濟部：每日最高已達2000萬片". 新頭殼. Archived from the original on 2020-05-24. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  4. Sung, Wen-Ti (2 June 2020). "Taiwan's COVID-19 Diplomacy and WHO Participation: Losing the Battle But Winning the War?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. Staff Writer (21 July 2021). "Taiwan donates 150,000 masks to Brazilian state". www.taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  6. Aspinwall, Nick. "Taiwan Will Donate 10 Million Masks in Bid to Aid Global Coronavirus Response". The diplomat. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  7. Ursula von der Leyen [@vonderleyen] (1 April 2020). "The European Union thanks Taiwan for its donation of 5.6 million masks to help fight the #coronavirus. We really appreciate this gesture of solidarity. This global virus outbreak requires international solidarity & cooperation. Acts like this show that we are #StrongerTogether" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021 – via Twitter.
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