ABSTRACT
In the chapter on Taiwan, Tse-Min Hung (Western Sydney University) describes how the pandemic led to calls for a more independent voice for Taiwan in global affairs and for greater definition of a Taiwanese identity. While Taiwan’s early success in combatting COVID was in many ways due to its international exclusion, its international COVID ‘charm offensive’ can be seen as a quest to re-engage with international organisations and to prosecute a case for the abandonment of China-led restrictions on Taiwan’s claims to statehood. A new assertive Taiwanese identity was evidenced both internationally and domestically, and combined through differing aspects such as effective border control, a new national passport, the protection of the public health system and public support for the government’s efficient management of the pandemic.
