According to the epidemic of the new coronavirus pneumonia, Taiwan supplies more than one million masks every day, but the supply is still in short supply. If mainland China completely cuts off the export of masks to Taiwan in the future, the shortage of masks may make the shortage of masks even more serious. In response, Dai Rongji, chairman of Kangnaxiang, a large mask manufacturer in Tainan, said this morning that even if manufacturers across Taiwan continue to produce daily, daily output has increased, and it is still far from enough to supply 23 million people across Taiwan.
According to statistics from the "Customs and Services Administration" of the Taiwan authorities' financial authorities, Taiwan imported 46.5 million masks in January this year, of which 43.36 million were from mainland China, accounting for as high as 93.3%. In addition, according to statistics from the economic authorities of the Taiwan authorities, Taiwan imported 432 million pieces of general masks, of which 400 million are from mainland China, indicating that 90% of Taiwan's general masks rely on mainland exports.
This morning, Dai Rongji was interviewed by China Review News Agency at Kangnaxiang Tourism Factory, General District, Tainan City. Speaking of the production of masks in the factory after the outbreak of the epidemic, Dai Rongji said that since the outbreak of the second and third day of the Chinese New Year this year, the factory mask production machines are operated and produced 24 hours a day. Generally, masks can be produced up to 150,000 pieces a day, and all of them are collected by the Tsai authorities.
Dai Rongji said that due to the impact of the epidemic, Liankangnaxiang exclusively developed 3D PM2.5 three-dimensional masks that specialize in preventing and controlling air pollution in April last year. The order for PM2.5 three-dimensional masks has also grown significantly. Now it can produce 50,000 pieces every day, and the output has grown more than half of before the outbreak of the epidemic. Although a PM2.5 mask is priced at NT$25, which is 4 times more expensive than the general masks on the market, many people are still willing to pay for it. Now there are orders from all over Taiwan to purchase air pollution masks every day. As for whether wearing air pollution masks can also prevent and treat infection, it remains to be verified by medical units.
Regarding the reason why mainland China has become the largest importer of masks in Taiwan, Dai Rongji said that, firstly, the quality of air pollution in central and southern China has declined in recent years, and the demand for wearing masks has increased. Secondly, the production cost of mainland masks is cheaper, and the price is much cheaper than that of local Taiwanese manufacturers. In order to save costs, market merchants buy more mainland masks. Even whenever election candidates send many masks, many of them are mainland products.
The epidemic is getting worse and worse. If the mainland completely restricts mask exports in the future, what impact will it have on Taiwan?
Dai Rongji said that before the outbreak of the epidemic, Taiwan produced 1.88 million masks per day. Now the Tsai administration has fully controlled the import and export of masks. Even if manufacturers across Taiwan continue to produce daily, daily production has increased, and it is still far from enough to supply 23 million people across Taiwan.
Dai Rongji said that if the supply of masks in mainland China is missing, if enough masks are to be provided in Taiwan, production machines must be added. Even if the machines increase, a group of technical and experienced technicians will need to operate them. At that time, the problems of masks and lack of manpower will gradually emerge.
Dai Rongji believes that Taiwan has experienced SARS and influenza. I believe this wave of epidemic is only temporary and will be solved in the end. As long as Taiwan can increase its production and production technology, there is no need to worry too much about the problem of mask supply being cut off by the mainland.
