Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington state - a state that has a close relationship with Xi Jinping - wrote a personal letter to the Chinese leader on April 2 asking for China to provide much-needed medical supplies such as surgical masks, disposable protective vests and gloves, as state health officials face serious challenges to ensure supply SCMP reported on May 27.
The letter from Inslee, a former Democratic candidate for the upcoming US presidential election, was sent after China tightened exports of medical supplies, leading to major delays in transporting personal protective equipment to the US. At that time, the US had about 250,000 COVID-19 cases nationwide.
According to SCMP, the previously not disclosed letter was sent after the brokerage of Qiang Wan, a Chinese-American businessman born in Beijing who moved to the US to study at the University of Southern California in the 1980s. Wan - 58, naturalized as a US citizen - is currently a software services businessman based in Washington state.
Qiang Wan - whose father was the Chinese Ambassador to Morocco in the late 1980s and early 1990s - said he was urged to act after seeing COVID-19 epidemic in Washington. The state of Washington - which had recorded about 19,500 cases and 1,000 deaths at that time - finally received a donation of medical supplies from some Chinese government and private sources after a letter directly to Mr. Xi Jinping.
I grew up in a diplomatic family, so for me it is normal. Whenever there is a crisis, diplomats do their best, through personal relationships or other channels to complete the work, and this is the way I try to do, Wan said.
In a letter from Governor Inslee to President Xi Jinping via the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., the governor wrote: I write this letter to you because our state of Washington is facing serious challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic... We hope to access Chinas huge supply of medical supplies... We hope to be supported with the following medical supplies: N95 mask, surgical mask, disposable protective gear, gloves and testing equipment.
On April 10, Chinese Ambassador to the US Thoi Thien Khai wrote a letter to Governor Inslee informing him that President Xi Jinping had received the letter and had directed relevant Chinese ministries and branches to provide support.
Ambassador Thoi Thien Khai said that the people of Tu Xuyen, Trung Khanh and other border provinces and cities have mobilized donations "to show their sympathy and support for the people of Washington state".
