The Turkish media reported extensively on "Taiwan has not forgotten Turkey's help during the September 21 earthquake in 1999", and praised President Tsai Ing-wen and other executive leaders for their donations. After the news was exposed, Turkish people also expressed their gratitude on social platforms.

(The picture is taken from the official website of "A HABER")

[Instant News/Comprehensive Report] A strong earthquake with a scale of 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred in southern Turkey on the 6th local time. At least 20,000 people have died. The Taiwan government immediately dispatched a rescue team to search for it. They successively announced that they would donate one salary to aid the country's recovery. After the news was exposed, Turkish media reported that "Taiwan has not forgotten the help of Turkey during the September 21 earthquake in 1999." People in Houtu also expressed their gratitude on social platforms.

According to a report by Turkish TV station "A Haber" on the 9th, citing Taiwanese media, Tsai Ing-wen, Lai Qingde, Premier Chen Jianren, and Vice President Zheng Wencan all announced on the 9th that they would donate one month's income to help the earthquake disaster in Turkey.

Before the chief executive released the news of the donation, the Taiwan government donated 2 million US dollars to Turkey. So far, Taiwanese people have donated more than 340,000 US dollars to the government donation account, and Taiwan has also sent two batches of search and rescue teams with a total of 130 people to Turkey. Among them The first 40-member rescue team has launched operations in Adyaiman, the hardest-hit area, and the second 90-member search and rescue team will also join the rescue work.

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According to reports, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen mentioned in a video call with the first search and rescue team that arrived in Turkey that the Turkish search and rescue team was the first to arrive in Taiwan during the September 21, 1999 earthquake in my country, "just like the earthquake 20 years ago. Turkey was the first country to extend a helping hand to Taiwan, and now is the time for us to repay our gratitude." In addition, Huang Bocun, the leader of the Taiwan Search and Rescue Team, said in an interview: "We are here to thank Turkey for its assistance to Taiwan in 1999. Earthquake assistance, thanks to Turkey we can learn search and rescue knowledge."

After the news was exposed, many local media reported heavily on Taiwan’s assistance to Turkey’s earthquake disaster with the headline “Taiwan: We repay your kindness 20 years ago, Taiwanese officials donated their salaries to Turkey”. Many netizens also reposted the news on Twitter. The news sparked widespread discussion.

Many Turkish netizens left messages to express their gratitude to Taiwan. Some said "this kindness will never be forgotten", "thank you", "thank you Taiwan", but some netizens were disappointed with Turkish government officials. Some netizens bluntly said, "Our politicians Wouldn't you be ashamed?", "When will our government officials donate their salaries?"

ÖZEL| Türkiye'ye yardıma koşan ülkelerden biri Tayvan. Ekibin Türkiye'ye geliş öyküsü aslında 24 yıllık bir vefa öyküsü.

“Tayvan'daki büyük depremde Türkiye bize yardım etmişti. Gerçek dostumuza yardım sırası bizde” pic.twitter.com/6jMWyn8LbA

— TRHaber (@trhaber_com) February 8, 2023