Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to donate part of her salary to Ukraine relief efforts

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will donate one-month’s salary to the humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine, in a symbolic action of support announced overnight.

Vice-President William Lai and Premier Su Tseng-Chang have also committed to  donating a month’s salary, as the country also declared it has sent 27 tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine in the past 48 hours. 

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that in the spirit of “Taiwan Can Help” and as a member of the international community’s urge for democratic states, it will offer Ukraine “with urgently needed medical relief supplies in a timely manner”.

According to a source interviewed by Reuters, Tsai’s monthly salary is roughly NT$400,000 (just under AUD$20,000) 

In a meeting this week, Tsai said that the determination of Ukraine’s people has garnered support from around the world. 

“The forces of global democracy supporting Ukraine are growing stronger,” Tsai said. “As a member of the global partners of democracy, Taiwan is not absent, and we fully support Ukraine.”

The Foreign Ministry said the salary of the President, Vice-President and Premier will be put into the country’s Relieve Disaster Association, which will then send the funds to Ukraine. The association was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1999 to handle surplus donations after a major earthquake in September that year, which killed more than 2500 people.

The funds will be distributed to Ukrainian refugees by various groups, including the government’s de facto embassy in Warsaw, the Polish government and other “designated” non-government organisations. 

Last week, in a symbolic gesture, Taiwan announced sanctions against Russia, despite minimal trade between the two countries. 

“I hope that our compatriots, as well as all our party partners in public office, can fully respond to this action and firmly express to the world that Taiwan stands with Ukraine, and Taiwan stands with democracy and freedom,” Tsai said.

In the past two years, President Tsai has been credited with leading the country to a low COVID-19 infection rate due to a swift response and aiding countries through its huge donation of masks.

On Tuesday, a number of Taiwanese companies pledged a total NT$10 million (AUD$488,579) in donations to a planned fund for Ukrainians who have fled their country in the past week.

Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang said at a press conference that the government-backed Relieve Disaster Association fund will collect donations from corporations and members of the public.