Taiwanese tech companies announce vaccine donation

Two Taiwanese high-tech companies have announced a donation of 10 million doses of the anti-coronavirus vaccine developed by Germany’s BioNTech to the island’s government

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Two Taiwanese high-tech companies announced a donation Monday of 10 million doses of the anti-coronavirus vaccine developed by Germany’s BioNTech to the island’s government. The announcement highlights the awkward situation for Taiwan’s government. It is excluded from the World Health Organization and is uneasy about relying on China, which threatens to invade the island democracy, for medical supplies. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. and Hon Hai Precision Electronics said they were buying the vaccine through China’s Fosun Pharma, which owns the distribution rights for Greater China, which Beijing says includes Taiwan. The mainland's ruling Communist Party has persuaded most other governments to avoid formal relations with the island democracy. That has hampered Taiwanese attempts to obtain international aid to fight the coronavirus pandemic.