China beat Taiwan in announcing the new vaccine

BEIJING / TAIPEI, Sept. 1 (Reuters) – China beat Taiwan on Wednesday by announcing the delivery schedule for a highly politicized order for BioNTech SE’s COVID-19 vaccines (22UAy.DE), saying the first ones would arrive. 932,000 shots fired at the island claimed by China on Thursday.

Taiwan has blamed China for blocking an original order from the German company earlier this year, allegations that Beijing has angrily denied.

Subsequently, the Taiwanese government allowed Foxconn, Apple Inc.’s main supplier (AAPL.O), formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (2317.TW), as well as its billionaire founder Terry Gou, along with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (2330.TW), trading on your behalf for the vaccine.

In July, a $ 350 million deal was signed for 10 million doses. They will be given to the government for distribution.

In a brief report shortly before Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung began his daily news in Taipei, China’s official Xinhua news agency said the vaccines would leave Luxembourg on Wednesday and are expected to arrive. in Taiwan Thursday morning.

He noted that the vaccines were provided by Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (600196.SS), which has the right to sell the shots on behalf of BioNTech in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Xinhua added a second delivery of about 910,000 doses next week.

Vaccines are made in Germany and come from here.

Chen told reporters that the plane had already taken off and would arrive early Thursday morning, though he offered no comment on Xinhua making the announcement before the Taiwanese government could do so.

Gou’s office said she would be represented at the airport by her cousin Sophie Chang, who is also the wife of TSMC founder Morris Chang. Gou is currently in quarantine after returning from a trip to Europe.

The BioNTech drama has dominated Taiwan headlines, especially after Gou got involved.

Taiwan obtains the firing, developed jointly with Pfizer Inc. (PFE.N), earlier than expected, as a delay in the regulatory approval of the firing for use in mainland China made it possible to have a surplus for the island. The vaccine is approved for use in Hong Kong and Macao, run by China. Read more

Although a relatively small domestic coronavirus outbreak is well controlled in Taiwan, only about 5% of its 23.5 million people are fully vaccinated, even though the government has millions of on-demand vaccines.

To date, more than 10 million doses of vaccine have arrived in Taiwan, distributed between Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) and AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L), while the administration of local developer Medigen Vaccine Biologics has also begun. Corp (6547.TWO).

A Taiwanese Buddhist group has also requested 5 million doses from BioNTech.

Beijing and Ben Blanchard editorial reports; Edited by Kim Coghill and Shri Navaratnam

Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.