One Has a Friend in Taiwan

This Taiwan:

Taiwan is donating half a million masks to Canada, expressing hope that some can be used to protect Indigenous communities, as the self-ruled island tries to counter the Chinese government’s effort to isolate it during the pandemic.

(Sidebar: this China.)

Taiwan, a democracy of more than 23 million people, has been prevented from taking part in World Health Organization activities to fight COVID-19 because of Beijing, which regards the jurisdiction as a renegade province.

(Sidebar: this WHO.)

 

The island has proven extremely successful at containing COVID-19, with just 429 infections and six deaths as of Tuesday, and this has left it in a position to extend medical assistance to other countries.

Taiwan’s donation of medical supplies to Canada is the latest in a string of gifts from Taipei to other jurisdictions, from the United States to Japan to the European Union, as the island practises what’s being called “mask diplomacy.”

Of the 500,000 surgical-grade masks shipped to Canada, 400,000 are earmarked for the Canadian Red Cross to distribute, and another 50,000 destined for Ontario, 25,000 to British Columbia and 25,000 to Alberta. Canada’s Public Health Agency is testing them now.

There are no strings attached to the donations, but the “Taiwan can help” labels printed on the mask boxes are evidence that the Taipei government wants to work with foreign governments if they are receptive.

(Sidebar: these strings.)

 

Taiwan, which is not recognized as a sovereign state by most countries, including Canada, has been increasingly isolated in recent years as China steps up pressure on its remaining diplomatic allies.

Maybe it's time we started recognising Taiwan as a nation-state separate from China, a friend and an ally.

These colours don't run.