[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] China is attempting "mask diplomacy" by promising to donate 10 million masks to Western countries such as the European Union (EU) and the United States, taking advantage of criticism from the West over China's "poor quality" masks. China, which has been restraining Taiwan's diplomatic activities under the "One China" principle, is now in an uncomfortable situation due to this sudden gap attack.
On the 2nd, Taiwan's Taipei Times reported that Taiwan will provide 10 million masks to the EU, the United States, and other Western countries severely affected by the spread of COVID-19. Of the 10 million masks Taiwan will provide, 7 million will be delivered to EU countries, 2 million to the United States, and 1 million to other diplomatic allies. The newspaper stated that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, is providing humanitarian aid to countries severely impacted by COVID-19, and plans to share not only masks but also various medical supplies and electronic systems necessary for managing and tracking quarantined individuals.
President Tsai Ing-wen also showed enthusiasm the day before at her office, saying, "Taiwan's daily mask production has surpassed 13 million and will soon reach 15 million," and "We plan to donate 10 million masks to medical personnel in countries severely affected by COVID-19, and if production capacity allows, we will provide additional masks." President Tsai emphasized, "Taiwan will not stand by in the global fight against COVID-19," and "Taiwan can help and is helping. We are already supporting our diplomatic allies."
The Taipei Times separately published evidence of gratitude from various European countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France for Taiwan's support, highlighting that Taiwan's "mask diplomacy" is fostering good relations with Western countries. It also published a photo of Brent Christensen, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which effectively serves as the U.S. representative office in Taiwan, meeting with Chen Shih-chung, Minister of Health and Welfare of Taiwan's Executive Yuan and commander of Taiwan's epidemic command center, quoting Christensen as saying, "Taiwan is a true friend." This "mask diplomacy" by Taiwan is taking place amid criticism of masks provided by China to countries worldwide as being of "poor quality."
The Netherlands announced last month that it recalled 1.3 million masks imported from China due to substandard quality, and various European countries including Spain, the Czech Republic, and Turkey have pointed out that many medical supplies received from China were defective. Chinese state media, as the situation failed to calm down, counterattacked by claiming that Western countries are excessively politicizing the issue to attack China.
If Taiwan, which has only about 300 confirmed COVID-19 cases, begins to actively support global COVID-19 prevention efforts, a clash with China, which had earlier volunteered as a COVID-19 aid provider, is expected to be inevitable. Some Western media have pointed out that China, opposing Taiwan's independence, is restraining Taiwan's diplomacy, warning that Taiwan's "mask diplomacy" will anger China and provoke backlash.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
