The second U.S. donation of COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan is sincerely appreciated by the government and the people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Oct. 31.
Accepted by Hsiao Bi-khim, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., at a distribution center in the state of Kentucky, the 1.5 million shots were dispatched shortly after on a cargo flight operated by Taoyuan City-based China Airlines Co. Ltd. in northern Taiwan.
The MOFA said the latest donation by the U.S. to Taiwan brings the cumulative total to 4 million since the onset of the pandemic. It further shows the commitment of Washington to helping Taipei strengthen its response to the pandemic, the ministry added.
According to the MOFA, the generous gesture demonstrates the rock-solid support of the U.S for Taiwan, as well as the strength of the like-minded partners’ enduring friendship. As per the MOFA-American Institute in Taiwan joint statement on combating coronavirus issued in March last year, the two sides will continue working together to ensure the health and well-being of people, the ministry said.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “That’s what friends are for! Deepest gratitude to @StateDept for facilitating a 2nd #US donation of #COVID19 vaccine doses to #Taiwan. The 1.5 million shots take the total generously shared by the fellow force for good with our country to 4 million. We’re #StrongerTogether!” (YCH-E)
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