TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday rejected claims by a COVID-19 expert that Taiwan did not provide early warnings of an epidemic.
US epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said in a post on X that when the World Health Organization identified the threat of COVID-19 in late 2019, Taiwan did not provide any warning but instead asked for information.
Ministry Spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said Tuesday that Van Kerkhove was wrong and that her statement was untrue, per CNA. On Dec. 31, 2019, Taiwan was already aware of seven infections in the Chinese city of Wuhan, he said. The same day, it passed the information on to the WHO, warning of possible human-to-human transmission, and added that the patients had been quarantined and were receiving treatment.
Hsiao said that after so many years, this was not the time to argue about whether warnings had been sufficient, but rather for the WHO to recognize that no individual and no country should be neglected.
He also cited international support from the US, diplomatic allies, and countries with similar values for Taiwan’s bid to attend the annual World Health Assembly and take part in WHO activities. Participation is not only a matter of health security for Taiwan’s 23 million people, but would also benefit the global community, he said.
