The COVID-19 pandemic marked the beginning of increased humanitarian aid cooperation between Taiwan and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Taiwan ranks among the top global donors working to mitigate the consequences of the escalation of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Due to the lack of direct communication with Ukraine, Taiwan delivers aid through the CEE countries. This effort achieves two objectives: upholding Taiwan’s democratic values and principles, and strengthening its ties with European partners.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan has engaged in medical aid exchanges with the EU, particularly the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. Between 2020 and 2021, there were six instances of Taiwan-CEE medical aid exchanges. In April 2020, Taiwan donated 7 million face masks to 11 European countries, and between July and October 2021, 845,900 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were sent to Taiwan from the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia.
Although modest, these efforts were a significant stepping stone, laying the groundwork for deeper humanitarian cooperation following Russia’s unexpected attack on Ukraine in early 2022. The partnership is reciprocal, with CEE countries providing financial and medical support during the pandemic and following the Hualien earthquake in April.
The scale and significance of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, along with Taiwan’s own experience with an authoritarian neighbor, led to an unprecedented increase in Taiwan’s humanitarian aid for Ukraine and cooperation with the CEE region, particularly with the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia, which have become strongholds of Taiwan-Europe relations.
Despite the limitations imposed by the lack of official diplomatic ties, Taiwan ranks among the top five Indo-Pacific countries in terms of bilateral aid sent to Ukraine (it is behind Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand).
Internationally, Taiwan is among the top 28 providers of humanitarian support to Ukraine, mostly healthcare and social care packages, funding for reconstruction and water treatment, food assistance and funding for power and heating.
Shortly after Russia’s attack in February 2022, Poland and Slovakia assisted in evacuating more than 60 Taiwanese nationals from Ukraine. In March, Taiwan sent its first batch of humanitarian aid — 27 tonnes of medical supplies — to Poland, which transferred it to Ukraine. This marked the beginning of numerous financial, medical and in-kind donations from Taiwan to help Ukraine.
Taiwan has provided more than US$126 million in donations and 800 tonnes of humanitarian aid routed through the CEE region.
Taiwan also donated 51 ambulances and emergency vehicles through Romania and Poland, and cooperated with the Czech Republic (which does not share a direct border with Ukraine, but many civil society organizations deliver aid from the country) to provide water treatment plants to secure drinking water in 13 villages in Ukraine.
Taiwan sources its donations mostly from government funds, but a considerable part was fundraised through the Relieve Disaster Foundation. Between March and April 2022, people raised nearly US$33 million in humanitarian aid and vast volumes of supplies that were later shipped to support Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries.
As Taipei does not have a direct line of communication with the highest echelons in Kyiv, there are only a handful of recorded instances of direct Taiwan-Ukraine support.
In January last year, the Kyiv City Government received the first two high-power generators purchased with US$1 million donated by Taiwan to help endure the long and cold winter. Then-minister of foreign affairs Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) later also signed a memorandum of understanding to donate an additional US$2 million to help another three Ukrainian cities procure power generation and heating equipment.
Also in January last year, the Ministry of Digital Affairs donated tablets and robot-related equipment to Ukrainian students in Lviv. In August of that year, Taiwan again donated laptops, tablets and robot kits to three schools in Poltava.
Another reason for the lack of direct contact between Taiwan and Ukraine is that China has shown interest in contributing to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and Kyiv seeks to keep this option open.
Taipei has routed its aid mostly through CEE countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia); the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and Ukrainian city governments, churches and regional non-governmental organizations, such as Lithuania’s Central Project Management Agency, the Polish Center for International Aid, the Slovakian Open Society Foundation and Pontis Foundation, the Estonian Centre for International Development, the Association Romania-Taiwan and Romania’s Fundatia Pontica, among others.
Taiwan has made significant progress in its relations with the CEE region, strengthening political, trade and cultural ties despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
This engagement has been reinforced by Taiwan’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine, bolstering its connections with CEE countries and achieving dual objectives: supporting democratic values and enhancing regional relationships.
By aiding Ukraine, Taiwan also highlights its commitment to democracy and human rights, enhancing its global image and reputation.
Vladimira Lickova is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies, with a focus on energy security, Taiwan-EU relations and South Asia. She is studying Chinese in Taiwan as a recipient of the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship. Kristina Kironska is a socially engaged interdisciplinary academic with experience in Asian studies, human rights, election observation and advocacy. She is codirector of the Central European Institute of Asian Studies.
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