A recent survey of AmCham Taipei’s membership showed that 95 percent of the respondents expressed some degree of satisfaction with the government’s efforts to contain Covid-19. That’s a record. Never before has the organization’s members – a very demanding bunch – been so pleased with a government initiative. 

The high marks are definitely well deserved. The government’s response to the pandemic has been brilliant so far. It has put on a master class on how to test, trace for contacts and isolate infected patients. Public health experts have been driving the battle against the virus. The daily news conferences are informative and professional. Citizens remain united behind the cause.

I wish I could say the same for the way the U.S. is dealing with the crisis. Too often, the daily news conferences leave me feeling more embarrassed than informed. I feel survivor’s guilt as I watch the debacle in America.

I recently posted a photo on Instagram of my family celebrating my daughter’s birthday at one of her favorite restaurants, Saffron 46, with the Taipei 101 skyscraper twinkling in the background. A friend in New York commented on the photo: “Wow, you get to go out to eat in Taiwan? Or is this a memory? Sitting in a restaurant seems like such an exotic activity right now.” 

Once again, I felt a deep privilege for being able to live and work in Taiwan. My reply explained how Taiwan has done better than any other country in fighting the virus. Now, Taiwan is helping the world by donating millions of masks to the U.S., Europe and its diplomatic allies. 

It’s a story I’ve been telling all my friends and family overseas. Expats like me are often Taiwan’s best brand ambassadors as we share our passion for this island with a global network of key influencers. Few other countries need such advocates more than this nation, due to its diplomatic isolation. 

However, it pains me to say that the crisis is leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of some of Taiwan’s most supportive expats. These are people who have lived here for years. They’ve started businesses, created jobs and paid taxes. They’ve married Taiwanese and have been warmly welcomed into families here. They’re staunch supporters of Taiwan and advocate for this special place whenever they can.  

But at times during this crisis, the government has reminded them that they’re second-tier citizens, and this country really isn’t their home. 

One friend contacted me and expressed frustration with not being allowed to send face masks to his brother in the U.S. Only Taiwanese could send a limited number of masks to their Taiwanese relatives overseas. So not even his Taiwanese wife could send masks to her American brother-in-law in a Midwestern state.  

“It appears the Taiwan government doesn't consider foreign marriages and family as real as those between Taiwan nationals,” my friend said. “My brother is my wife's brother-in-law. Her family, too, is my family, and if they needed masks while I was in the U.S., I would have no problem sending them some. However, right now that is not the case for Taiwan, despite all the positive press the Taiwan government is seeking.”

The government’s Covid-19 policies have also affected my family. My oldest daughter, who graduates from college this month in the U.S., planned to do what many of her Taiwanese peers will do: Move back home with her parents as she searches for a job. But Taiwan’s new visa rules won’t let her return “home.” So as an unemployed recent grad with no income, she’ll have to find a place to stay in the U.S. until the pandemic is over – or Taiwan eases its visa restrictions. 

Another friend and longtime resident of Taiwan shared a more remarkable story. He was visiting the U.S. in January when it looked like Covid-19 might hit Taiwan hard. Concerned about protecting his Taiwanese employees at his company, he started stocking up on face masks to take back to Taiwan to give to his staff. He bought the best ones he could find – P95s. 

When he returned to Taiwan, he discovered two things: 1) His employees already had enough masks, and they thought the P95s were too heavy duty to wear all day. And 2) Taiwan was successfully containing Covid-19 and ramping up the production of masks.

So the boxes of masks sat in his office, and he didn’t think much of them until Covid-19 began blowing up in the U.S. He watched in horror TV scenes from his hometown of New York, where doctors and nurses were caring for patients without the necessary protective gear. 

His new mission became finding a way to send the masks he brought to Taiwan back to his family and friends working in the medical sector in New York. But his efforts were quickly thwarted. Taiwan wasn’t allowing foreigners to export masks – even the ones that he bought in the U.S.   

“We feel let down a bit because we have adopted Taiwan as a home and built our lives and careers here,” he said. “We expect our home to treat us as family; yet, that didn’t happen in our cases. We weren’t treated as they treat themselves and that kind of hurt.” 

I appreciate that we’re experiencing a crisis. The government is facing a massive challenge. Strict measures are necessary. Getting everything right is impossible, though Taiwan has come admirably close. One improvement would be adopting a more nuanced view of “foreigners.” More flexibility should be granted to long-term residents who have proven their deep commitment to this country.   

Have you read?
♦ How to beat the coronavirus without the WHO? Ask Taiwan
♦ Taiwan has done exceptionally well in fighting COVID-19 – but needs an ‘exit strategy’ as well
♦ Why the US has the world's highest number of Covid-19 deaths
♦ How US can keep death toll far below the 100,000 projection

William Foreman is a former foreign correspondent for The Associated Press who covered Greater China for 10 years and now serves as the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.