Taiwan’s International Cooperation Development in the Post-COVID Era: Perception and Challenges in the Global Arena

This article critically examines Taiwan’s international development cooperation strategy in the post-COVID-19 era, focusing on the role of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) as both a foreign aid mechanism and a political communication tool. Situated within the broader geopolitical tension with China and Taiwan’s diplomatic isolation, the article employs a qualitative methodology, including document analysis, to trace the historical evolution of Taiwan’s development aid strategy. It explores how Taiwan’s transition from aid recipient to emerging donor has shaped its foreign policy goals, particularly through soft power and liberal institutionalist frameworks. The analysis highlights Taiwan’s efforts during the pandemic, including health diplomacy, capacity-building projects, and multilateral collaborations, as strategic tools to gain international goodwill and political legitimacy. However, these initiatives face significant challenges due to China’s coercive diplomacy, economic incentives to Taiwan’s allies, and the persistent application of the One China Policy in multilateral institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite its robust humanitarian contributions, Taiwan’s aid often yields limited diplomatic returns, as evidenced by the loss of key allies such as Nauru and Honduras. The article argues for recalibrating global governance norms to recognise non-sovereign entities’ developmental contributions and proposes practical reforms to enable Taiwan’s observer status in international organisations. By contrasting Taiwan’s transparent and capacity-driven aid model with China’s debt-heavy infrastructure diplomacy, the article underscores the ethical and strategic value of Taiwan’s international cooperation. The article concludes by recommending institutional innovations to enhance Taiwan’s participation in global development and public health systems.