Though several years have passed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, its enormous social and economic disruptions, and the distressing memories they left behind, still linger. People around the world continue to feel uneasy about the prospect of next unknown viral threats, and many are asking: are we truly better prepared for the next pandemic?

As the old saying goes, failure can make us stronger. Just as Taiwan stood firm during the COVID-19 pandemic by drawing on the hard-earned lessons of the 2003 SARS outbreak, the world too can benefit from Taiwan’s proven strengths in epidemic response when facing the next global health challenge.

When the novel coronavirus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019, health experts predicted that Taiwan would be among the hardest-hit countries, given its geographic proximity and extensive travel ties with China. Instead, the nation went on to become one of the most widely reported success stories, even recording 253 consecutive days without a new domestic confirmed case in 2020. Throughout much of the crisis, life in Taiwan continued with almost unimaginable normalcy, without the need for strict lockdowns.

So, what is the secret behind our “Taiwan Model”? It lies in a series of early deployment measures institutionalised after the SARS outbreak, and the swift, decisive action taken by Taiwan’s health authorities as soon as they confirmed reports of a virus emerging from China.

On December 31st 2019, before China admitting the discovery of human-transmittable virus in Wuhan, Taiwanese officials began onboard inspections of direct flights from the city. Shortly after a suspected case of COVID-19 was identified on 20 January 2020, the specialised pandemic authority, the Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC), was activated to track cases and coordinate cross-ministerial efforts. These response strategies implemented three days before the Wuhan lockdown and ten days ahead of the WHO’s official declaration of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

In the subsequent months, Taiwan introduced border controls and a 14-day home isolation policy for inbound travellers to prevent wider community transmission. These measures were supported by a self-developed digital fencing system using advanced technology, which ensured compliance with quarantine rules while protecting personal privacy.

Taiwan also made early efforts to alert the WHO with critical information and warnings soon after detecting and analysing signs of unusual epidemiological patterns in China. Yet these warnings were met with silence, simply because Taiwan is not a member.

Had Taiwan been included in the WHO’s surveillance systems and mechanisms, such as the WHA, millions of lives might have been better protected. The international community could have responded more swiftly and effectively. Moreover, countless foreign travellers passing through or residing in Taiwan would not have been left vulnerable due to the island’s exclusion from coordinated international efforts.

This is why we, joined by many democratic partners, continue to debunk the disinformation surrounding Taiwan’s participation in the WHO. For too long, China has mischaracterised and distorted UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 to assert its claim over Taiwan’s representation. This deliberate obstruction has come at the expense of innocent lives and has severely undermined the integrity of the global health governance framework.

The reality is that neither of above-mentioned resolution addresses Taiwan’s representation in the United Nations (UN) or the WHO, nor do they justify the exclusion of Taiwan’s expertise from global health mechanisms. It is time to put an end to this misinterpretation and prioritise our shared global health security.

Infectious diseases know no border. During the COVID-19 crisis, Taiwan proved itself a trusted and reliable partner, demonstrating the strength of its public health system and its unwavering commitment to global wellbeing. With hard-earned experience and proven success in epidemic prevention and control, Taiwan has much to contribute to the WHO’s forthcoming pandemic agreement. A safer world is within reach, but only if we have the resolve to act together. It is time to embrace every positive force for global good. It is time to let Taiwan help.

Joint Op-ed by Ambassador Harry Ho-jen Tseng, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, High Commissioner Samuel Alharjai Berridge of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis to Canada.

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