Taiwan VP, in U.S., repeats accusation China blocked vaccine access
TAIPEI, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan Vice President William Lai used his final day in the United States to repeat an accusation that China blocked the island from obtaining COVID-19 vaccines last year, and to thank a U.S. lawmaker for her role in donating the inoculations.
Last May, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of blocking a deal with Germany's BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) for COVID-19 vaccines, after Beijing offered the shots to the island via a Chinese company just as Taiwan was dealing with a rise in domestic infections.
Beijing has angrily denied trying to stop Taiwan getting vaccines, and also offered Chinese-developed shots which the island rejected, citing safety concerns. China claims Taiwan as its own territory.
Less than two weeks after Tsai's comments, Senator Tammy Duckworth, visiting Taipei with two other U.S. lawmakers, said the United States would donate 750,000 vaccine doses to Taiwan.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-vp-us-repeats-accusation-china-blocked-vaccine-access-2022-01-30/