In related news, National Fire Administration (NFA) Director-General Huang Chi-min (黃季敏) denied that the NFA had given information to MOFA indicating Taiwan did not need rescue materials.
MOFA issued instructions on Aug. 11 to all foreign representative offices to decline their host governments if they should offer supplies or rescuers to help Taiwan in the wake of Morakot.
Critics have lambasted the ministry over the past few days for declining offers of foreign assistance.
Acting Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) said on Friday that the ministry's instructions to its overseas representative offices were based on suggestions made by the NFA.
"I have asked all NFA cadres. They all said they were not consulted by the ministry. It is such a massive disaster, and the administrative welcomes rescue teams from all countries," Huang said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MO YAN-CHIH AND SHIH HSIU-CHUAN
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