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The COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States have arrived in Taiwan, and President Tsai Ing-wen expressed his gratitude to the United States, quickly drawing a strong complaint from the Communist-led mainland on Monday.
President Joe Biden’s administration shipped 2.5 million doses of vaccine free of charge to the autonomous island developed by US pharmaceutical company Moderna Inc., despite growing criticism from China, which sees Taiwan as a renegade province.
Taipei has struggled with a dramatic increase in coronavirus cases since May and has had difficulty obtaining COVID-19 vaccines as it claims Beijing has blocked the supply of vaccines to the Democratic Island.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks in Tainan on May 8, 2021, at a ceremony in memory of Japanese architect Yoichi Hatta, who designed the Chianan Canal, Wushantou Reservoir and Wushantou Dam in Greater Tainan, in southern Taiwan a century ago. (Kyodo) == Kyodo
After vaccines reached Taiwan on Sunday, Tsai said in her Twitter post: “Your donation of 2.5 million doses of vaccine will help save lives and reflect the true friendship between our countries,” thanking the United States. .
The vaccine allocation to Taiwan can be seen as the latest sign of US support for the island facing pressure from mainland China. Earlier this month, Japan, a close security ally of the United States, also donated vaccines developed by Britain’s AstraZeneca Plc to Taiwan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Monday urged the United States not to seek “political manipulation in the name of immunization assistance” and not interfere in the internal affairs of the country. the Asian nation.
The pro-independence Progressive Democratic Party, led by Tsai, has “prevented the mainland from importing vaccines to Taiwan in any way possible,” violating “the basic humanitarian spirit,” Zhao told reporters in Beijing.
So far, around 6.4% of Taiwan’s population, or nearly 1.48 million people, have received at least one dose, according to its health authorities.
Taiwan and China have been governed separately since their separation in 1949 following a civil war. It is believed that the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to reunite the island with the mainland by force if necessary.
The United States transferred diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979. Washington, however, remains committed to unofficial relations with Taipei.
As the mainland has struggled to undermine Taiwan’s quest for international recognition, the United States has recently forged closer ties with the island, becoming a factor in escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington.
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