U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar arrived in Taiwan. He tweeted saying that he and his delegation were all tested negative for COVID-19. He said he represents U.S. President Donald Trump in his support for Taiwan.


U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar II arrived in Taiwan in the afternoon on August 9. He and his delegation then underwent testing for COVID-19. He tweeted on the morning of August 10 that all were tested negative and that he's happy to express the U.S.' support for Taiwan. When he met with President Tsai on the morning of August 10, all members were wearing masks and, instead of shaking hands, Tsai cupped her hands in front her chest to show respect.

I'm honored to be here to convey a message of strong support and friendship from President Trump to Taiwan. Taiwan's response to COVID-19 has been among the most successful in the world. That is the tribute to the open, transparent, democratic nature of Taiwan's society and culture.

Other than expressing Trump's support to Taiwan, Azar said the United States and Taiwan will continue to engage in cooperation and he praised Taiwan for presenting some of the most successful disease-preventing efforts. Azar also expressed condolences for the late ex-President Lee Teng-hui.

Lee Teng-hui, the father of Taiwan's democracy and one of the great leaders of the 20th Century's movement toward democracy.

President Tsai Ing-wen said that Taiwan's public is happy to see face masks worn by the American officials were all made in Taiwan. She said she believes Taiwan and the U.S. could exchange ideas on disease prevention and find ways to collaborate. She also criticized the WHA for excluding Taiwan.

I will stress again that politics should take priority over public health. The WHA's exclusion of Taiwan is against human rights values.

According to a report by Japanese media outlet Sankei Shimbun, Azar is discussing with Taiwan about setting up a new organization to replace the WHO. However, both Taiwan's Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have rejected the report. Azar is set to sign an MOU on U.S.-Taiwan collaboration with Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, he is also scheduled to give an important speech on Tuesday and visit Taiwan's mask factories.



美國衛生部長阿札爾9號下午抵台，參訪團在機場進行採檢，阿札10凌晨在推特表示，採檢結果為陰性，開心來到台灣表達支持，10號上午會見總統蔡英文，因應防疫全員戴口罩，總統蔡英文也以拱手方式向來訪成員致意。

美國衛生部長 阿札爾表示：「非常榮幸，來到這裡傳達川普總統，對台灣的強力支持與友誼。台灣的防疫成就，是全球最成功的表率之一，這也彰顯了台灣社會，透明、公開與民主價值的所在。」

阿札爾除了表達總統川普對台灣的強力支持，台美持續加強合作，更再次大讚台灣防疫成就是全球最成功表率之一，也提到藉此機會要對前總統李登輝表達哀悼之意。

美國衛生部長 阿札爾表示：「（前總統)李登輝是台灣的民主之父，也是20世紀全球民主浪潮中，一位重要的領袖。」

總統蔡英文則強調台灣民眾都很開心看到美國官員戴上印有Made in Taiwan的口罩，相信阿札爾這次來訪可以讓台美就疫情交換意見，共同研擬未來合作的方向，也重批WHA不該排除台灣。

總統 蔡英文表示：「我要再次強調，政治因素，不應該凌駕在健康人權之上，WHA排除台灣的參與，是違背醫衛普世人權的原則。」

而日媒產經新聞報導，阿札爾此行是要與台灣討論，建立一個新的國際組織來取代WHO。不過對此總統府與外交部，都聲明澄清報導與事實不符，而阿札爾下午也將與衛福部長陳時中簽屬台美衛生合作備忘錄，週二更將發表重大演說，及參訪口罩國家隊工廠。