Taiwan defence minister apologises after coronavirus outbreak on navy ship | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Multimedia
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
December 11, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Multimedia
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023
Taiwan defence minister apologises after coronavirus outbreak on navy ship

Coronavirus chronicle

Reuters
21 April, 2020, 08:25 pm
Last modified: 21 April, 2020, 08:27 pm

Related News

  • Taiwan president: China too 'overwhelmed' to consider invasion
  • War with China is not an option, Taiwan ruling party VP candidate says
  • Taiwan presidential frontrunner taps high profile US envoy as running mate-sources
  • Xi told Biden Taiwan is biggest, most dangerous issue in bilateral ties
  • China tells UK to stop efforts to 'enhance' ties with Taiwan

Taiwan defence minister apologises after coronavirus outbreak on navy ship

A total of 27 sailors are confirmed to have been infected so far

Reuters
21 April, 2020, 08:25 pm
Last modified: 21 April, 2020, 08:27 pm
Taiwan's Minister of National Defense Yen Teh-fa speaks during an event marking the 60th anniversary of Second Taiwan Strait Crisis at Qingtian Hall, a former medical shelter inside an artificial cavern, in Kinmen county, Taiwan August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Taiwan's Minister of National Defense Yen Teh-fa speaks during an event marking the 60th anniversary of Second Taiwan Strait Crisis at Qingtian Hall, a former medical shelter inside an artificial cavern, in Kinmen county, Taiwan August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Taiwan's defence minister apologised and said he was willing to resign after a coronavirus outbreak on a navy ship which visited the Pacific last month just as the country celebrated a huge drop in cases.

A total of 27 sailors are confirmed to have been infected so far. They were on a friendship visit by three Taiwanese navy ships to the Pacific island state of Palau, one of only 15 nations that have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Defence Minister Yen Teh-fa, speaking at a news conference, offered his apologies to the public for the outbreak and took a deep bow, flanked by senior officers.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"I have asked President Tsai for punishment, and the president has asked the Defence Ministry to face the incident honestly and reflect thoroughly," Yen said, adding that he would accept any punishment including being asked to resign.

President Tsai Ing-wen has promised accountability and that there will be no cover-up.

Yen said disease prevention work was carried out before the ships set off but there where "shortcomings" and some disease control measures were not properly implemented.

"Those who should be punished will be punished," he added.

The government is working to trace thousands of people in Taiwan who may have had contact with about 700 sailors on the Palau mission who disembarked in Taiwan before the coronavirus cases were confirmed.

Taiwan's Centres for Disease Control has sent some 200,000 text alerts via mobile phones week to people who might have been in contact with the sailors.

Before announcing the navy infections on Saturday, Taiwan had marked three days with no new cases. Some buildings in Taipei had been lit up with the word "zero" in celebration.

The incident is also embarrassing for Taiwan as it has made a big show of aiding its diplomatic allies in fighting the virus, with gifts of face masks and in Palau's case helping with testing suspected cases.

Tiny Palau has no confirmed cases. Its government said this week there was no cause to panic about the Taiwan navy cases as there was "little chance that the virus on the vessels came from Palau".

Taiwan has been relatively successful dealing with the coronavirus thanks to early detection and prevention measures, and has reported 425 cases and six deaths to date, far lower than many of its neighbours. A total of 217 people have recovered.

Taiwan

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Representational Image. File photo
    Import onions from alternative markets if necessary: FBCCI president
  • Representational Image. Photo: Collected
    28 aspirants regain candidacy on second day of appeal
  • The deep sea port in Matabari from the ocean. Photo: Foisal Ahmed
    Shipping ministry starts process to form Matarbari Deep Seaport Authority

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Times of India
    Abir Hassan, first Bangladeshi to graduate from Indian Military Academy
  • 10m barrel oil, 300b cubic feet gas found in Sylhet
    10m barrel oil, 300b cubic feet gas found in Sylhet
  •  ZARA ATELIER. Collection 04; The Jacket. Photo: Collected
    When art imitates cruelty: Dissecting Zara’s latest shoot
  • Photo: euronews
    Apps that use AI to undress women in photos soaring in use
  • Two-thirds of LPG sellers hold on to bulk importers to stay afloat in dollar crisis
    Two-thirds of LPG sellers hold on to bulk importers to stay afloat in dollar crisis
  • BNP declares fresh round of blockade on Tuesday-Wednesday
    BNP declares fresh round of blockade on Tuesday-Wednesday

Related News

  • Taiwan president: China too 'overwhelmed' to consider invasion
  • War with China is not an option, Taiwan ruling party VP candidate says
  • Taiwan presidential frontrunner taps high profile US envoy as running mate-sources
  • Xi told Biden Taiwan is biggest, most dangerous issue in bilateral ties
  • China tells UK to stop efforts to 'enhance' ties with Taiwan

Features

Shashtho Chaka – Healthcare on Wheels has two buses, they plan to use one bus for the urban slums and another one for remote areas in villages.  Photos: Courtesy

Shashtho Chaka: Driving healthcare up to the doorstep of the poor

6h | Panorama
Russia has become increasingly critically dependent on Beijing. Even state-owned refiners in India are being pressured by Russian oil suppliers to pay in yuan.
Photo: Bloomberg

The yuan is finally showing some muscle in international trade

5h | Panorama
Khandaker Hasib Rafin’s Starlet Glanza V is one of the finest examples of the model to roam around Dhaka’s streets. Photo: Akif Hamid

1999 Starlet Glanza V: The uncrowned prince

22h | Wheels
Jamal Jamaloo: The song, dance and magic

Jamal Jamaloo: The song, dance and magic

1d | Features

More Videos from TBS

Fraud is now at hand due to AI

Fraud is now at hand due to AI

1h | Tech Talk
Unemployment among Asian workers and Black men rises in November

Unemployment among Asian workers and Black men rises in November

2h | TBS World
Installation of 5% of target EFD machines in 3 years

Installation of 5% of target EFD machines in 3 years

2h | TBS Economy
Wealth and income of ministers and state ministers increased

Wealth and income of ministers and state ministers increased

17h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]