Taiwan has donated 500,000 surgical masks to Canada to help safeguard the country’s front-line medical personnel as they combat coronavirus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced April 28.
Of the half a million masks, 400,000 were given to the federal government while 50,000 were allocated to Ontario and 25,000 to Alberta and British Colombia respectively as those three provinces are the hardest-hit areas in the country, the MOFA said.
According to MOFA spokesperson Joanne Ou, Taiwan also requested the Canadian government reserve a certain number of masks for indigenous peoples, highlighting the two countries’ shared interest in protecting the rights and interests of ethnic minorities.
The Canadian Trade Office in Taipei revealed April 28 on its official Facebook page that the donation had arrived and thanked Taiwan for its act of generosity. The two sides, which are working to fight coronavirus through commercial cooperation as well as scientific and technical exchanges, are “natural partners” in their mutual pursuit of a “better, safer, healthier world,” the office said.
Taiwan has ramped up donations of medical supplies like surgical masks, forehead thermometers and infrared displays in recent months to meet global demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients include the country’s diplomatic allies, New Southbound Policy target countries, Switzerland, the EU, the U.K. and the U.S. (TYT-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw