Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/09/2020
By: Emerson Lim

Taipei, April 9 (CNA) A batch of 400,000 surgical face masks was handed over to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on Wednesday, the first part of Taiwan's pledged donation of 100,000 masks per week, under a joint effort with the U.S. to fight the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday.

Under the arrangement, the two countries agreed to assist each other with medical equipment and supplies, including 100,000 medical face masks from Taiwan per week and raw material from the U.S. to make 300,000 medical protective suits in Taiwan.

A statement on the bilateral cooperation was signed March 18 by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Brent Christensen, and the first shipment of masks from Taiwan was delivered Wednesday, according to MOFA.

"A total of 400,000 surgical face masks for the month of April were handed over to the U.S.," MOFA said in a press release.    [FULL  STORY]