Taiwan and the US are to combat the COVID-19 pandemic together, with the partnership including medicine development, contact tracing technology and the exchange of medical supplies, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement yesterday.
The statement, signed by AIT Director Brent Christensen and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), said: “To further strengthen US-Taiwan consultation and cooperation on combating the COVID-19 virus, which originated in Wuhan, both sides will seek to share best practices and cooperate on a range of activities.”
Following the AIT’s statement on Sunday, which said that both sides would cooperate on developing vaccines and medicine to combat “the Wuhan coronavirus,” yesterday’s statement again highlighted the virus’ Chinese origin.
Screen grab from Tsai Ing-wen’s Facebook page
The statement also listed six areas of bilateral collaboration: research and development of rapid tests; research and development of vaccines; research and development of medicines; contact tracing techniques and technology; joint conferences with scientists and experts; and cooperation and exchanges of medical supplies and equipment.
The US has prepared for Taiwan the raw materials required to make 300,000 protective outfits, while Taiwan — when its mask supplies are stable — is to send 100,000 masks per week to the US, Wu told a news conference at the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
Wu said the AIT has contacted Academia Sinica to discuss the prospect of working together.
Since late last month, Academia Sinica has announced several breakthroughs, such as developing antibodies for a rapid immune-based test kit and synthesizing the drug remdesivir, a potential candidate for treating the coronavirus.
The AIT yesterday posted a photograph on Facebook showing Christensen and Academia Sinica President James Liao (廖俊智) meeting on Tuesday, saying that they discussed the many ways in which the US and Taiwan could improve health cooperation.
“Academia Sinica’s achievements and expertise are impressive, including its development of an innovative new rapid test for COVID-19. The United States can benefit greatly from this partnership with the people of Taiwan,” the AIT wrote, adding the hashtags “RealFriendsRealProgress” and “StriveTogetherThriveTogether.”
Academia Sinica later yesterday also posted on Facebook a photograph of Liao meeting Christensen.
Academia Sinica wrote that last month, it convened its researchers and members from universities, other institutes and government bodies to form a platform to combat COVID-19, expressing the hope of maximizing research by working with the US and global partners.
Separately yesterday, European Economic and Trade Office Director Filip Grzegorzewski wrote on Twitter that “#EU and #Taiwan Academia Sinica [are] working together on the most advanced rapid tests and vaccines for #COVID. With 15-minutes reliable tests, we will defeat #coronavirus.”
IMMIGRATION REFORM: The legislative amendments aim to protect the rights of families to reunify, and to attract skilled professionals to stay and work in Taiwan Foreigners who are highly skilled professionals, top-prize winners in professional disciplines, investment immigration applicants or have made special contributions to Taiwan can soon apply for permanent residency on behalf of their spouses and minor or disabled children after the legislature approved amendments to the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法). The amendments, which were proposed by the Ministry of the Interior and approved by the Executive Yuan on Jan. 12, aim to attract foreign talent to Taiwan and encourage them to stay. They would take effect once they are signed by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文). The amendments involved changing 63 articles, making it the biggest
FIRST STEP: Business groups in Taiwan welcomed the deal, which does not include tariff reductions at this stage, as they called for the elimination of double taxation Taiwan and the US yesterday signed an initial agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade. The agreement was signed yesterday morning by Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Managing Director Ingrid Larson in Washington, the Office of Trade Negotiations in Taipei said. The ceremony was witnessed by Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) and Deputy US Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi. Taiwan and the US started talks under the initiative in August last year, after Taipei was left out of the Washington-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. “The deal that will be signed tonight is not only very historic,
Beijing yesterday blamed US “provocation” for an incident last week in which a Chinese plane crossed in front of a US surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. The incident came at a time of frayed ties between Washington and Beijing over issues including Taiwan and the shooting down of an alleged Chinese spy balloon that flew over the US this year. “The United States’ long-term and frequent sending of ships and planes to conduct close surveillance on China seriously harms China’s national sovereignty and security,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning (毛寧) said when asked about the latest incident. “This
‘GLOBAL NETWORK’: The only way to deter a Chinese invasion is for the international community to unite in its resolve, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Lee said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Lee (李淳) yesterday urged democratic nations around the world to not let Beijing dictate the definition of their “one China” policies, saying that they should increase cooperation with Taiwan to build a resilient democratic network. Lee made the remarks during his speech, titled “Ukraine and Taiwan: Why Global Unity Matters,” at the annual Bratislava Forum in Slovakia. “People in Taiwan have been paying close attention to the situation in Ukraine and admire Ukrainians for defending their homeland. They are [also] fighting for Taiwan and democratic countries around the world,” Lee told forum participants. “The international
RSS