U.S. Makes Rare Nod Toward Taiwan With Call to Discuss Virus
- Call is rare high-level contact between Taipei, Washington
- Taiwan says the two sides also discussed WHO membership
A resident buys face masks from a vending machine in Taipei on April 14.
Photographer: Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The top U.S. health official spoke to his Taiwanese counterpart about fighting the coronavirus outbreak, a rare Cabinet-level contact between the two governments that’s certain to anger Beijing.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar discussed giving Taiwan a bigger role in the global fight against Covid-19 in a telephone call with health minister Chen Shih-chung Monday. The two also discussed U.S. support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization, according to a summary of the meeting released by Taiwan’s foreign ministry.