Reuters
Date: Februsry 5, 2020

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Italy’s de facto embassy in Taiwan said on Wednesday that it has “noted” the island’s request for a speedy resumption of air ties, after the Italian government stopped direct flights having included Taiwan as part of China in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Taiwan was angered last week when Italy suddenly suspended flights by Taiwan’s flag carrier China Airlines (2610.TW) between Taipei and Rome, and has sought for the ban to be lifted.

Italy has stopped all flights between the country and China, as well as the Chinese cities of Hong Kong and Macau and Chinese-claimed Taiwan to stop the spread of the virus.

Taiwan has only reported 11 cases, compared to more than 24,000 in China, but as the World Health Organization considers self-ruled Taiwan part of China, it has included it in its advice that China is “very high risk”.    [FULL  STORY]