Health Secretary Azar Criticizes Beijing Over Mishandling of Pandemic During Taiwan Speech

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar delivers a speech at the public health college of the National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taipei on Aug. 11, 2020. Pei Chen/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

TAIPEI, Taiwan—U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar delivered harsh criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over its mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak, in a speech given at a local university on Aug. 11.

Azar pointed out the sharp contrast between democratic Taiwan and communist China over their handling of the outbreak caused by the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

“Taiwan’s approach to combating the virus through openness, transparency, and cooperation stands in stark contrast to the country where the virus began,” Azar said, in a speech at Taiwan’s prestigious National Taiwan University. The virus originated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.

He added: “The Chinese Communist Party had the chance to warn the world and work with the world on battling the virus. But they chose not to, and the costs of that choice mount higher every day.”

Azar pointed to the example of Chinese authorities muzzling Chinese doctors who spoke out about the outbreak.

In late December, eight doctors, among them ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, posted on Chinese social media about a new form of pneumonia that was spreading in Wuhan. Li was later summoned to a police station and forced to sign a “confession statement,” saying he won’t commit any further “unlawful acts.”

Li passed away in February after unknowingly contracting the virus from an infected patient.

Azar also mentioned that Robert Redfield, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offered U.S. assistance to his Chinese counterpart in January. However, it was not until mid-February that Beijing agreed to let a group of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) travel to China to investigate the outbreak.

Beijing also knew of the virus’s potential to spread among humans, but did not publicly acknowledge it until Jan. 20. One day later, both Taiwan and the United States reported their first confirmed COVID-19 cases.

According to Taiwan officials, the island state warned the WHO that the virus could be contagious in an email on Dec. 31.

Beijing’s initial coverup also involved Chinese authorities ordering a genomics company to destroy samples of the virus in early January.

Azar criticized Beijing for not being forthright. “[W]hen it comes to health, the expectations of the world community are quite common sense: You can’t get anywhere without transparency.”

He added that efforts to combat and contain viruses would not be possible when countries aren’t willing to share information with each other.

“I believe it is no exaggeration to say that, if this virus had emerged in a place like Taiwan or the United States, it might have been snuffed out easily: rapidly reported to public health authorities, who would have shared what they knew with health professionals and with the general public,” Azar said.

Azar also took exception to Beijing’s “political bullying” of Taiwan, highlighting how it was “illogical and counterproductive” to have Taiwan excluded from taking part in the WHO.

From 2009 to 2016, Taiwan’s health ministers took part in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the WHO, as observers. But since 2017, Taiwan has been barred at China’s request from taking part in the assembly and from all WHO meetings.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, despite the island having its own democratically elected government, military, and currency. The Chinese regime has sought to bolster its claim by diminishing Taiwan’s status as a sovereign state, such as by barring it from participating in international organizations and events.

“Sadly, for political reasons, some don’t want Taiwan to help—even when it costs lives,” Azar said, adding that “the influence of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] far outweighs its investment in this public health institution—and it uses influence not to advance public health objectives, but its own narrow political interests.”

He applauded Taiwan’s COVID-19 contact tracing as setting the standard for the world.

As of Aug. 10, Taiwan, with a population of about 24 million, has 480 confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, despite its close proximity to mainland China.

“Taiwan is a democratic success story, a reliable partner, and a force for good in the world,” Azar said.

He also applauded Taiwan’s allies—-ambassadors from the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu, who were among those in the audience at NTU—for their “willingness to speak up for Taiwan in international fora.”

Azar is the highest-level U.S. cabinet official to visit the island since 1979—the year the United States severed official diplomatic ties with the island in recognition of Beijing.

Since arriving in Taiwan on Sunday afternoon, Azar has met with top officials in Taiwan government, including President Tsai Ing-wen, Vice President William Lai, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, and Health Minister Cheng Shih-chung.

On Monday, Azar oversaw the signing of a landmark agreement on health cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.

Several U.S. lawmakers have applauded Azar’s visit to Taiwan, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

“Two democracies meeting in each other’s respective capitals should be the norm,” Rubio stated in an Aug. 10 press release from his office.

Rubio concluded: “I look forward to more high-level engagement with Taiwan to strengthen the relationship for years to come.”