Nepal earthquake: Quake struck nation ‘rejected’ aid, says Taiwan

Taiwan’s foreign minister said on Monday that the government of Nepal had rejected its offer of a 20-man rescue team, but denied diplomatic pressures were behind the decision.

The Taipei-based crew was put on standby on Sunday with much of the Nepalese capital in ruins and more than 3,500 confirmed dead, but were told aid was being prioritised from neighbouring countries. “The Nepalese told us that it would first accept such aid from neighbouring countries like India and Pakistan,” minister David Lin said.