The foreign ministry is working to charter a flight to evacuate Taiwanese citizens from India. That’s amid a surge in COVID-19 cases that has left India’s healthcare system under great strain.
On Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang told lawmakers that the foreign ministry is in talks with travel agencies to organize an evacuation flight. He also said that Taiwanese citizens wishing to return from India may do so via Tokyo aboard a twice-weekly Japan Airlines flight. Over 20 Taiwanese citizens have returned from India via this route in recent days.
Tien also told lawmakers that Taiwan plans to continue sending medical supplies to India as the surge of COVID-19 cases continues in the country. Already, Taiwan has sent India 500 oxygen tanks, as well as 150 oxygen concentrators, which produce oxygen-rich gas from ambient air.
However, Tien said that with Taiwan’s flag canceling flight to India, the foreign ministry is considering alternative ways of getting the supplies to the country.