Dr. T.Y. Wang, professor and chair of the Department of Politics and Government, published “Taiwan’s Rising International Standing amid the COVID-19 Pandemic?” in Taiwan Insight.

As COVID-19 ravaged the world, Taiwan’s success in combating the deadly virus has attracted worldwide attention. The island country recently has grabbed international headlines again, which may aid its efforts to join the international health organization.

Taiwan is not a member of the WHO nor a participant of the World Health Assembly (WHA), primarily due to diplomatic isolation imposed by China. Taiwan’s success in combating the pandemic and its “Taiwan can Help” campaign by donating millions of masks to Europe and the U.S. have invited praises from world leaders. As Beijing is perceived as a culprit for both the 2003 SARS epidemic and the current COVID-19 pandemic, Wang concluded, Taiwan finds itself in an improved international standing that may be beneficial to its bid for membership in the WHO.

Taiwan Insight is the online magazine hosted by the Taiwan Studies Programme, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.