TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japan’s prime minister, Suga Yoshihide, on Thursday (Sept. 16) expressed his gratitude to Taiwan for its medical supply donations and stressed the strong bond between the two countries.
Japan and Taiwan have developed a firm friendship from helping each other in the event of natural disasters and pandemics, and the equipment pledged by Taiwan will be used wisely, Suga said in a tweet, both in Chinese and Japanese.
Taiwan has announced a donation of 10,000 pulse oximeters and 1,008 oxygen concentrators to the East Asian neighbor. The aid is intended as a token of gratitude for Japan, which has gifted Taiwan over 3.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, according to Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), Taiwan’s representative to Japan.
Hsieh noted that local media have suggested there is growing demand for oxygen devices as many COVID patients recuperate at home, hence the aid from Taiwan. Taiwan's people have also thanked Japan in different ways, from running ads in Japanese newspapers to the landmark skyscraper, Taipei 101, displaying flashing thank you messages, wrote CNA.
Japan's vaccine donations have arrived as Taiwan scrambles to inoculate its people against the virus after a local COVID surge in mid-May. As of Wednesday (Sept. 15), over 12.7 million doses have been administered, with 48.97% of the population having received one shot, according to official figures. However, only 5.22% of Taiwanese are fully vaccinated.
台湾の皆さまへ
台湾から日本への酸素濃縮器と血中酸素濃度計の供与に心から御礼申し上げます。日本と台湾は自然災害や感染症の脅威に向き合うたび、人道的見地から互いに助け合うことで友情を育んできました。台湾から頂く機材は、これらを必要とする現場で大切に使わせていただきます。
謝謝台湾！
— 菅 義偉 (@sugawitter) September 16, 2021
