TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan recently analyzed the coronavirus tests on a volunteer from the United States working in Pacific ally Palau, proving Taiwan helps out other countries, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday (March 7).

Taiwan has tried to join the World Health Organization (WHO). It attended the annual World Health Assembly, using the phrase “Taiwan Can Help” to promote its case in the face of Chinese opposition.

When the U.S. volunteer showed symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) recently, the government of Palau decided to send the test data not to the U.S., which would have taken much more time, but to its ally Taiwan, CNA reported.

First, on March 5, a doctor in Taiwan used videoconferencing to tell a local colleague in Palau how to conduct the virus test, after which a nurse boarded a flight to Taipei with the sample. In the end, the analysis proved the volunteer had not been infected with the coronavirus, the CECC said.

The process showed that Taiwan was a valuable ally, with the president of Palau sending a message of gratitude, according to the CNA report.