29 May 2020

Tsai denounces ’s approved national security law for resident Tsai Ing-wen reaffirmed her government’s support for the peo- Pple of Hong Kong, May 28, and de- scribed a national security law approved by China earlier in the day as undermining freedom and the rule of law in the region. Tsai’s statement comes after China’s Na- tional People’s Congress (NPC) passed a “draft decision” on establishing a national security law in Hong Kong, in a vote held on Thursday. The decision was passed by 2878 votes to 1, with 6 abstentions. The proposed law prohibits acts of seces- sion, subversion, terrorism, and conspiring with foreign influences in Hong Kong, and cision, stating that it “greatly limits Hong ’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) allows Beijing’s security forces to operate Kong’s freedom of speech and judicial was also critical of the NPC’s decision, in the region. It is widely seen, however, independence”. In a previous statement, describing the move as betraying China’s as a move by the Chinese government to May 27, Tsai also indicated that she had promise that Hong Kong would remain bring Hong Kong under the full control of directed her cabinet to draw up an action highly autonomous until 2047, and as the national administration. plan to assist Hong Kongers looking to proof of the hypocrisy of the “one country, President Tsai sharply criticised the de- move to Taiwan. two systems” administrative formula. MOFA thanks dignitaries for messages congratulating President Tsai Research team finds key and VP on inauguration antibody against COVID-19 he Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked Taiwan’s allies group of researchers in Taiwan and like-minded partners from Aand the UK have found a key T antibody with the ability to prevent around the world for their messages of congratulations, following the inau- SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes guration of President Tsai Ing-wen and COVID-19, from entering human cells, Vice President Lai Ching-te on May 20. according to a Gung Universi- A total of 263 dignitaries from 47 coun- ty (CGU) professor, May 28. The antibody has been found to have tries, territories and organizations, in- presidential nominee Joe Biden. a 90% to 98% efficacy rate, said Shih cluding the heads of state of Taiwan’s 15 Messages of congratulations were also Shin-ru, director of the Research Cen- allies, offered their congratulations via forthcoming from figures in Austra- ter for Emerging Viral Infections at letters, official statements, social media lia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, CGU, and has been observed to be posts and video recordings. France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Ku- effective against regional variations of A number of prominent figures from wait, New Zealand, Singapore, South the virus found in China, the United across the political spectrum in the Unit- Korea, Sweden and the U.K., as well States, Europe and Egypt. ed States were among those to send as senior officials and parliamentarians The antibody discovery could herald a their well wishes, including Secretary from the European Parliament and Cen- possible medication for COVID-19. The of State Mike Pompeo, and Democratic tral American Integration System. researchers plan to meet with man- Ban on surgical mask exports, domestic retail sales lifted June 1 ufacturers in June, who will conduct n an announcement May 27, the lion will continue to be requisitioned further trials of the medicine before Ministry of Economic Affairsby the government. entering mass production. If all goes I(MOEA) revealed that Taiwan is According to the MOEA, the govern- well, said Shih, the medicine could be set to lift the ban on the export and ment now has a stock supply of al- on the market by the end of the year. domestic retail sale of surgical face most 300 million masks, due to the Editorial: Representative Office in the EU and Belgium masks as of June 1. total requisitioning of 1.3 billion since Website: http://www.roc-taiwan.org/be_en/index.html The changes will see up to 12 million January 31. Moreover, the government E-mail: [email protected] masks a day be made available for will continue to monitor the national Tel: +32(0)2/287.28.16 or +32(0)2/287.28.11 Taiwanese domestic consumers as reserve, so as to ensure that the num- well as foreign exports, while 8 mil- ber does not fall below 100 million.