The year 2020 is full of impressive diplomatic achievements despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s campaign of coercion, according to the MOFA. (Staff photo/Pang Chia-shan)

Steadfast diplomacy under the government’s leadership is helping Taiwan expand its international presence while making significant contributions to the global community, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dec. 23.

While the year 2020 has been filled with tremendous challenges, great achievements have been made in enhancing Taiwan’s relationship with the U.S. and Europe while garnering support for the country’s international participation, the ministry added.

According to the MOFA, Taiwan and the U.S. expanded their partnership across the board this year, as demonstrated by U.S. President Donald J. Trump signing into law the TAIPEI Act and Washington reaffirming its security commitments by approving several arms sale packages.

The healthy state of bilateral ties is also reflected in the visits to Taiwan by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Keith Krach, as well as the inaugural Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue held in Washington last month and continuous collaboration under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the MOFA added.

The ministry said exchanges with Europe are also at an all-time high, with the European Parliament and legislatures of many European countries reaffirming their support and calling for expanded partnerships with Taiwan.

Equally impressive is Taiwan’s success in managing COVID-19, the MOFA said. So far the country has donated more than 50 million medical masks and other key supplies to 80 plus countries, as well as organized over 80 virtual meetings to share its disease-fighting expertise.

These acts have garnered global attention, the ministry said, adding that major political figures such as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have thanked Taiwan for its assistance.

At the same time, the ministry said global support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly—the decision-making body of the WHO—has reached an unprecedented level, as evidenced by public calls from more than 1,700 lawmakers in 80 plus countries when the WHA reconvened last month in Geneva.

Other noteworthy developments include the establishment of representative offices in Somaliland in August and Aix-en-Provence in southern France earlier this month, as well as the reopening of an office in the U.S. territory of Guam in October.

As a beacon of democracy and force for good in the world, Taiwan will continue to deepen relationships with its allies while strengthening ties with like-minded partners to safeguard freedom, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, the MOFA said. (SFC-E)