Taiwan president to donate a month’s salary for Ukraine relief efforts

Taiwan President, Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday that she, Vice President William Lai and Premier Su Tseng-chang will each donate one month’s salary to aid humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine as it seeks to repel an invasion by Russia.

Tsai, whose government this week send its first batch of aid in the form of 27 tonnes of medical supplies, said the determination of Ukraine’s people has moved the world and Taiwan’s people too.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a special operation.

The war has generated widespread sympathy in Taiwan for Ukraine’s people due to the threat the island says it faces on a daily basis from giant neighbour China.

“The forces of global democracy supporting Ukraine are growing stronger,” Tsai said.

“As a member of the global partners of democracy, Taiwan is not absent, and we fully support Ukraine.”

The Foreign Ministry will provide details of a bank account set up by Taiwan’s Relieve Disaster Association for Ukraine relief donations into which Tsai said she, Lai and Su will each donate a month’s salary.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said separately it has asked its de facto embassy in Warsaw, the Polish government and its designated non-government organisations to help distribute the funds to aid Ukrainian refugees.

Taiwan last week also announced it was joined Western-led sanctions on Russia, though its own trade with the country is minimal.

“I hope that our compatriots, as well as all our party partners in public office, can fully respond to this action and firmly express to the world that Taiwan stands with Ukraine, and Taiwan stands with democracy and freedom,” Tsai said.

Reuters