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Coronavirus pandemic
ChinaPolitics

Beijing offers Covid-19 vaccines, expertise to epidemic-hit Taiwan

  • Mainland says it is willing to send doses for most ‘Taiwan compatriots’
  • Island has rebuffed help as an effort to divide the population

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Medical workers collect samples from residents at a coronavirus testing centre in New Taipei City. Photo: AFP
Kristin Huang
Beijing has offered to send vaccines and pandemic specialists to Taiwan as the self-ruled island struggles to contain an outbreak of coronavirus infections.
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In a statement on Monday night, the Taiwan Affairs Office, Beijing’s main body for cross-strait affairs, said mainland China was prepared to make “swift arrangements” to supply its vaccines to the “vast majority of Taiwan compatriots”.

“If needed, we are also willing to actively consider sending epidemic prevention and control experts to Taiwan, to share ... experience with Taiwan’s medical and health professionals and provide counselling regarding epidemic control,” TAO spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian said.

The suggestion comes a week after Beijing made a similar offer to help, a proposal the Mainland Affairs Council – the TAO’s counterpart in Taiwan – criticised as an attempt by Beijing to polarise the Taiwanese people.

Taipei and Beijing are also mired in accusations of politicisation of Taiwan’s bid to take part in the World Health Assembly, the body that sets policy for the World Health Organization.

On Monday, Taiwanese Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said excluding Taiwan from the assembly would create a gap in the fight against the pandemic.

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But Zhu said Taiwan had adequate notification of the pandemic and blocking Taiwan from the assembly would close off a path for Taiwanese independence forces.

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