IMPRESSIVE CAPABILITY: The US secretary of health said that he discussed with local business leaders how Taiwanese firms can help the US to produce more strategic goods

Taipei Timews
Date: Aug 13, 2020
By: Lin Chia-nan / Staff reporter, with CNA

Taiwanese businesses are to play a vital role in US supply chains as Washington boosts domestic production of strategic goods, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said yesterday, before ending his four-day visit in Taiwan.

Azar and his delegation traveled to New Taipei City’s Wugu District (五股) to visit a Chang Hong Machinery Co (長宏機械) factory and meet with Vice Premier Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津).

“We got to see the [factory’s] impressive manufacturing capability to produce face masks as well as N95 respirators,” Azar said, commending the government and private sector in Taiwan for their ability to scale up mask production “just as what we are doing in the United States.”

Some of the machines produced at the factory are to be sold to the US as part of US President Donald Trump’s plan to build up the US’ capacity for manufacturing masks and N95 respirators, he said.    [FULL  STORY]