The economics ministry says that Taiwan and Australia will exchange supplies to help both sides fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Facebook post Monday, the ministry wrote that Australia will provide Taiwan with the raw materials needed to make 4.22 million 300ml bottles of rubbing alcohol. Australia already supplies Taiwan with around 90% of its total rubbing alcohol supply.
In exchange, Taiwan will send Australia three metric tons of non-woven fabric for the production of surgical masks.
The post does not mention when the exchange will happen.
On Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou welcomed the planned exchange. She said that Australia is a partner that shares Taiwan’s values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and human rights. She said she hopes the exchange will help bring the spread of COVID-19 to an end. She also said she hopes that in the future, it will lead to more bilateral trade and closer cooperation in all areas.