Taiwan: Lessons and the Politics of Coronavirus
Taiwan stands out as a notable success story in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in light of its proximity and extensive contacts with mainland China. Taiwan’s success began with quick and effective measures to contain the spread of the virus -- banning flights from infected areas, ramping up production of masks, setting up testing facilities, and employing high-tech tracing methods. As a result, Taiwan has so far been able to avoid the large-scale lockdown measures that are stalling the economies of so many countries. Not only was Taiwan quick to recognize the the threat from the fast-spreading coronavirus, it warned of its human-to-human transmission properties in early January, at a time when Beijing and others were minimizing the threat. Yet Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Organization (WHO) meant that its warning was not disseminated through the institution, nor was Taiwan included in coordinating a global response to COVID-19. Not surprisingly, questions are now being raised about the wisdom of barring Taiwan from international organizations focused on areas such as health and safety.
Join us for a conversation with a leading public health expert, Dr. Chunhuei Chi, and political scientist Syaru Shirley Lin, moderated by Asia Society Policy Institute’s Daniel Russel, to analyze Taiwan’s handling of COVID-19, its role in global public health challenges, and the geopolitical implications its success.
When
Thursday, April 30, 2020
10:00 - 11:00AM, New York Time
Where
YouTube channel and Facebook page of Asia Society