The President of Taiwan will donate her monthly salary to Ukraine
The President of Taiwan Kai Ing-wen said she, the vice president William Lai and the Prime Minister Su Cheng-chang will donate a monthly salary to help in humanitarian efforts for Ukraine, reports Reuters.
The war in Ukraine is affecting the people of Taiwan emotionally, as the island faces daily threats from its giant neighbor China. Beijing sees Taiwan as its territory and has stepped up military pressure to confirm those claims.
Kai, whose government this week sent its first batch of aid in the form of 27 tonnes of medical supplies, told a meeting of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that the determination of the people of Ukraine had reached the world and the people of Taiwan.
"As a member of the global partners of democracy, Taiwan is not absent and we fully support Ukraine. "The forces of global democracy that support Ukraine are becoming stronger."
Salary of 14 thousand dollars
A person familiar with the situation said that Kai, as president, receives about 400.000 Thai dollars ($ 14.250) a month as a salary.
Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had asked its embassy in Warsaw, the Polish government and its "designated" NGOs to help distribute funds to help Ukrainian refugees.
Taiwan also announced last week that it had joined Western-led sanctions on Russia, even though its own trade with the country was minimal.
"I hope that our compatriots, as well as all our partners in public office, will be able to fully respond to this action and firmly express to the world that Taiwan stands with Ukraine and Taiwan stands with democracy and freedom," Kai said.
Taiwan is largely excluded from global organizations such as the United Nations because of Chinese pressure, but seeks to show that it is a responsible member of the international community despite its diplomatic isolation.