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The United States will donate 750,000 Covid-19 vaccines to Taiwan, demonstrating its support for the country after Taipei accused Beijing of interfering in its efforts to ensure the vaccine.
A group of U.S. senators announced during a high-profile visit to Taipei on Sunday that the announcement was made a few days after Japan Donated 1.2 million jabs As Taiwan struggles to cope with its first large-scale Covid outbreak.
The U.S. contribution to Taiwan accounts for more than 10% of the 7 million vaccine doses that Washington has promised to provide Asia-Pacific countries.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said: “Taiwan’s inclusion in the first vaccinated group is vital to the United States because we recognize your urgent need and we value this partnership. “
Duckworth and two other senators arrived in Taipei from South Korea on a U.S. Air Force transport plane. This was the first U.S. military plane to land in Taiwan since the relief mission after the 1999 earthquake.
Since Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, visiting American delegations have avoided using Air Force aircraft. China claims that Taiwan is part of its territory and threatens to annex it if Taipei refuses to surrender under its control indefinitely. Any U.S. military assets on the island as a provocation.
A senior Taiwanese government official said: “They used an Air Force aircraft to emphasize that this mission was supported, recognized, and even coordinated with the government.” “The US government wants to make sure that people understand the significance of this short visit.”
Taiwan’s health authorities announced 343 new locally transmitted cases on Sunday. Taipei basically contained the coronavirus last year, but the epidemic that began in May has spread to some factories in the electronics industry, which is the backbone of the country’s booming export industry.
Taiwan’s opposition vehemently criticized the Tsai Ing-wen government for lack of vaccines. The government is concerned that China is trying to use the health crisis to destabilize society and to make the public oppose Tsai Ing-wen. Beijing accused Tsai Ing-wen of “planning independence with the help of the pandemic.
China says it is ready to provide vaccines to Taiwan, but Taipei accuses Beijing of efforts to prevent direct access to vaccines. China also criticized Japan for donating vaccines to Taiwan.
Tsai Ing-wen expressed determination to cooperate with countries outside China to fight the virus. “I believe that through cooperation with the United States, Japan, and other countries, Taiwan can overcome our current challenges and help advance international disease prevention efforts so that all of us can be on the road to recovery.” She is working with the United States, Japan and other countries. Said at the meeting. United States Senator.
Tsai Ing-wen said that the message that they received bipartisan support in Congress “represents the rock-solid friendship between Taiwan and the United States.”
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