Democratic, transparent quarantine makes Taiwan shine on National Day

Daniel D. W. Tang, representative of the Taipei Mission in Korea, delivers a congratulatory speech for the anniversary of Taiwan’s Double Ten Day, Oct. 10. / Captured image from Taipei Mission in Korea’s Facebook

By Yi Whan-woo

The Taipei Mission in Korea highlighted its government’s quarantine, touting it as democratic, transparent and exemplary by the international community on the country’s national day last week.

Titled “Working Together To Lead Taiwan Forward,” an approximately five-minute video clip uploaded on the diplomatic mission’s Facebook page showed how effectively Taiwan has controlled the coronavirus without restricting people’s livelihoods.

The clip was part of celebrations for the 109th anniversary of Double Ten Day, which commemorates the Oct. 10 Wuchang Uprising of 1911, a revolt that brought down China’s millennia-old monarchical system and led to the birth of the Republic of China (ROC), the official name of Taiwan, in January 1912.

The Taipei Mission in Korea came up with the online celebration to observe the social-distancing campaign.

The country, which has a population of about 24 million, has one of the world’s lowest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 527, with 488 recovered and seven dead as of Oct. 11.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, second from right, presides over a meeting on anti-coronavirus measures in this video clip uploaded on Facebook by the Taipei Mission in Korea, Oct. 8, in celebration of Double Ten Day. / Captured image from Taipei Mission in Korea’s Facebook

The clip offered a glimpse into how Taiwan’s quarantines, contact tracing and wide availability of masks, among other things have paid off under Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

It also showed how Taiwan has been supporting other countries, as seen from a donation of 54 million surgical masks, test kits and medical equipment.

In a separate clip to mark Double Ten Day, Daniel D. W. Tang, representative of the Taipei Mission in Korea, expressed hope to “share the joy of this special occasion” with Koreans.

He found it fortunate that Taiwan and Korea, each with efforts from healthcare professionals, citizens and the government, have contained the COVID-19 virus.

“I would like to add that the two countries share more than successful management of COVID-19,” he said, referring to democracy, freedom, human rights and trade.

Tang noted the two countries were the third-most-visited travel destinations for each other, with two-way visitors reaching a record 2.45 million in 2019.

“I sincerely hope that the pandemic will end soon so that you can visit Taiwan,” he said, adding that Korean tourists then would be able to enjoy the view from the Taipei 101 skyscraper, eat snacks and tropical fruit at a night market and take photos of Queen’s Head, a mushroom-shaped rock formation and one of Taiwan’s iconic images in Yeliu.

“Most importantly, you will experience first-hand Taiwan’s democracy, freedom, hospitality and diversity,” he added.

Also in a separate message, Cho Kyoung-tae, president of National Assembly’s Korea-Taiwan Parliamentarian Friendship Association, congratulated Taiwan for its National Day.

He said the bilateral exchanges had expanded “sector by sector” and that the two sides could develop further relations.

He especially noted Taiwan’s “swift and thorough response was an exemplary model that gave lessons to the international community in coping with COVID-19.”

“Such an outstanding achievement will make the ROC’s reputation shine even more on the international stage,” he said. “I hope the ROC continues its deep ties with many countries.”