Taiwanese citizens have launched a series of online campaigns in response to an accusation by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus that Taiwan is behind an onslaught of personal attacks against him.
In one of the online citizen campaigns, Taiwanese YouTuber Ray Du, graphic designer Aaron Nieh and others launched an online fundraiser to pay for a full-page advertisement in the New York Times to detail Taiwan's position amid the controversy, CNA reports.
Dubbed "A letter to the world, by Taiwanese," the campaign raised NT$10.28 million (US$341,000) in less than nine hours, well over the NT$4 million it was seeking, according to fundraising platform zeczec.com.
The organizers said the full-page advertisement will include a letter to Tedros, who said earlier this week that he had been the victim of racially motivated attacks emanating out of Taiwan, amid global criticism of the WHO's response to the coronavirus disease.
"Please stop oppressing Taiwan, which is reaching out to the world, and all other vulnerable people," the letter reads. "The WHO should play the role of a fair judge in the face of the world's doubts about China's untruthful report of the domestic developments of COVID-19."
The campaign followed Tedros' claim during a press briefing on Wednesday that the smear campaign, including racial slurs, originated in Taiwan.
"Three months ago, this attack came from Taiwan," he told reporters in Geneva when asked to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump's recent criticism of the WHO.
In response, Du and his team said Tedros and the WHO had been sending confusing messages amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The world is extremely confused about you and the organization you serve, and Taiwan is as confused," the letter reads. "Perhaps, the organization is rather slow in suppressing the pandemic, but if you can insist on communicating the truth, you can stop the proliferation of disinformation."
Meanwhile, other netizens have been wading into the fray, sometimes using humor.
Under the hashtag #ThisAttackComesFromTaiwan, many have posted pictures of Taiwan scenery and food, making fun of the term "attack."
"I strongly oppose what @drtedros has said about #Taiwan," Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan tweeted. "He's neglected our efforts to combat #Codvid19. Btw, #Braisedporkonrice is one of my favorite #streetfood in Taiwan. I wish Dr. Tedros could come to taste it, and see our achievements. #thisattackcomesfromtaiwan."
On a YouTube channel called "Stop Kiddin' Studio," which features the views of foreign nationals in Taiwan, a video clip shows Taiwan's efforts to combat the coronavirus and says the bullying of Taiwanese must stop. "We are kind but we ain't soft," the video says. "Dr. T please do not randomly accuse, discredit Taiwan. When the world suffers, we help."
