Taiwan is facing a sharp increase in coronavirus infections and, like many other parts of the world, vaccine shortages. So far, three percent of the island’s 23.5 million people have been vaccinated against covid-19, mostly only the first of two. Help from the United States will come in handy for Taiwan, which China considers its rebel province.
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After arriving in Taipei, where she paid a brief visit with Senators Dan Sullivan and Christopher Coons, Senator Duckworth said that 750,000 doses donated to Taiwan were part of the first tranche of American donations. “It was crucial for the United States to include Taiwan in the first group to receive vaccines, as we recognize your urgent need and value this partnership,” the senator told a news conference. However, she did not specify what vaccines Taiwan would receive and when.
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Among other things, the senators are to discuss security and other issues with the Taiwanese president. The United States, like most other countries, has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but is Reuters, the world’s largest supporter and supplier of weapons.
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Taiwan complained that China was trying to block the island’s access to vaccines, which Beijing denies. Japan donated 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca on Friday. Thanks to this gesture, the number of benefits that have reached the island so far has more than doubled.
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The US government, like the British government, has been criticized by other countries for practically not exporting vaccines – unlike the EU, for example. The United States has committed to delivering 80 million doses through the COVAX vaccination initiative. France, Germany, Italy and Japan will also send vaccines to developing countries. The United Kingdom and Canada have not yet announced the exact quantities they plan to donate. Boris Johnson according to BBC he said he would do so next week at the G7 summit.
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Many industrialized countries have purchased significantly more vaccines than they need because it was not initially clear which drugs would be approved by the authorities. According to the British The Guardian for example, Canada has acquired 381 million doses of vaccine for a nation of 37 million people. The United Kingdom has secured so many benefits that each of its citizens will receive up to seven benefits. The EU has provided six benefits for each of its citizens, three for the United States and two for Japan.
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