1/ As the world is busy helping each other out of the pandemic, China has been just as busy with attention-seeking behaviour – requesting expressions of gratitude from other countries whilst also engaging in a sinister disinformation and propaganda campaign.
2/ Beijing is very determined to keep all the spotlight on itself, ensuring that no-one else – especially Taiwan – takes any praise from the international community. A million face masks from Taiwan arrived at Frankfurt airport last week to help ease the burden of the pandemic.
3/ However, when Cabinet spokesman Steffen Seibert and Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr were confronted with questions from reporters, they avoided naming Taiwan as one of the countries helping out. Instead, they thanked “other countries” for supplying masks.
4/ When a journalist asked whether Beijing was behind their decision not to name Taiwan, Adebahr said she was unaware of any such situation, while Seibert added he was unable to say anything about reporter’s enquiry. It reminds us of RTHK aired an interview with Bruce Aylward.
5/ Bruce Aylward is the WHO advisor who spoke to @yvonne_tg. Tong asked whether the WHO would reconsider letting Taiwan participate, but she received a long silence from Aylward, who then said he couldn’t hear the question. As Tong asked pressed him, Aylward hung up on her.
6/ Despite Taiwan’s apparent success in responding to outbreak & its generosity in seeking to help, many remain afraid of engagement because they know it would upset China. Taiwan’s success stems from its distrust towards China. which avoid a massive outbreak without much panic.
7/ However, because Beijing objects to Taiwan taking part in WHO, it is unable to provide support within the system. WHO is calling for the world to learn from China from its harsh confinement & surveillance, all whilst claiming Taiwan is “racist” for criticising @DrTedros.
8/ Imagine if Taiwan were able to make use of the WHO as a platform to share its experience with the world – what would happen? Of course, it would be a slap in the face for China. But no one should care about China’s insecurities at this point.
9/ The masks Taiwan sent were an effort at providing humanitarian assistance. Taiwan shoulders its duties as global player and does not await statements of gratitude, because it knows too well that countries dare not say “thank you.”
10/ On the contrary, China has sold masks of poor quality and does not stand in solidarity with the world – it initially denied the existence of the virus and it expects the world to rejoice at its propaganda and show gratitude.
11/ It's pathetic to receive aid from Taiwan but refuse to acknowledge them out of fear of upsetting Beijing. China ought to be upset & ashamed about what it did. It's time that the world stopped indulging China, especially when indulgence leads to a loss of lives.
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