Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Taiwan donated NT$2,957,200 (US$100,000) Wednesday to help with earthquake relief and recovery efforts in New Zealand and pledged to provide more assistance if necessary.
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Christchurch Tuesday morning, Taiwan time, and killed at least 75 people.
"Our thoughts are with the people of New Zealand, " Taiwan's Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang said Wednesday as he presented a US$100,000 check to Stephen Payton, Director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, the country's representative office in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.
The donation is meant to express Taiwan's condolences to the people of New Zealand, as well as return the friendship New Zealand demonstrated when it made a similar donation to Taiwan in 2009, said Yang.
Wellington donated NT$2,212,400 in aid to Taiwan after Typhoon Morakot devastated the island in 2009.
There were no reports of injury or death among the estimated 600 Taiwanese residents and tourists in Christchurch, Yang said, but his ministry is trying to locate the whereabouts of a female student as of Wednesday.
In his statement to Parliament, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key praised Taiwan as being amongst several countries that "have responded so quickly and have provided assistance in such a timely way."
Payton, New Zealand's representative in Taiwan, lauded Taiwan for its quick response in sending out its first search and rescue team to New Zealand on Tuesday night. The 22-member team is currently en-route with two tons of equipment, and is scheduled to arrive in Christchurch Wednesday evening.
"Only a small number of countries responded that quickly," Payton said.
He added that his office also received phone calls from locals in Taiwan who wanted to donate to New Zealand.
Payton described Taiwan's donation, which will go to the New Zealand Red Cross, as a generous offer, and said that he expects the Taiwanese rescue team will work with their counterparts from other countries in Christchurch.
"We hope that more lives can be saved, " Payton said. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ly