MOFA Announces 12-Point Emergency Response Plan|強化外館急難救助 外交部提12改革方案

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a 12-point reform plan to strengthen emergency rescue and aid mechanisms at its embassies and representative offices overseas. Apart from designating Taoyuan International Airport as the emergency response center for traveling citizens, the plan strengthens the functions of telecommunications software and the emergency response abilities. What worth noting is that losing one's passport is not defined as emergencies.


Japan's Kansai International Airport was shut down after it was hit by Typhoon Jebi in September. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spent the last month evaluating emergency response protocols at its overseas offices. It recently released a new overseas rescue guide app and says it will provide more information on messaging app Line in the future as well.

When people need help, what they care about most is getting in contact with the overseas embassy or representative office right away. So, our (Line account) will focus on this.

The ministry says lost wallets or passports do not qualify as "emergencies." It has drafted a new guide similar to one issued by the Japanese government to help Taiwanese travelers tackle their own problems. One example cited is that embassies and representative offices abroad are not responsible for making hotel reservations for travelers, but can provide information on how to contact hotels. The emergency response center at Taoyuan International Airport, meanwhile, has been designated a call center to provide travel information and process transfers.

We have redefined what constitutes an emergency and when we can and can't provide assistance, these two items. We also added two items on "can provide assistance" part. And the "can't provide assistance" part, we created so-called referral services. Inconveniences and difficulties are not emergencies.

The ministry says all Taiwanese people should install its offline app before leaving Taiwan because you can't always get online during an emergency or disaster. However, it also says its primary source of information is still Line and the offline app will not be developed further until its budget is passed next year.