TAIPEI, Feb. 18 (Reuters) – Germany’s BioNTech SE plans to supply COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan, the company said, after the island complained that the company struck a deal in December to last-minute 5 million doses, possibly because of Chinese pressure.
Taiwanese Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said on Wednesday that officials were about to announce the deal in December when BioNTech pulled the plug, but added that the deal was still pending and had not been torn.
While not directly saying China was to blame, Chen suggested there was a political dimension to the decision and that he was concerned about “interference from outside forces,” hence his caution in openly discussing the planned deal at the time. .
In an emailed statement late Wednesday, the company said it planned to supply vaccine to Taiwan.
“BioNTech is committed to ending the pandemic for people around the world and we plan to provide Taiwan with our vaccine as part of this global commitment. Discussions are underway and BioNTech will provide an update. “
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly spar with the island over the coronavirus pandemic.
Taiwan is angry at China’s claim, only it can speak for the island on the international stage on the subject, while Taiwan accuses China of lack of transparency.
BioNTech has signed an agreement with Chinese company Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd to exclusively develop and market COVID-19 vaccine products developed using BioNTech’s mRNA technology in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
In return, it agreed to pay up to $ 85 million in licensing fees and invest $ 50 million for a stake in the German company.
BioNTech’s development and distribution partner for the rest of the world is the American company Pfizer Inc.
Taiwan announced in late December that it had agreed to purchase nearly 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including 10 million from British drug company AstraZeneca, the remainder coming from the global COVAX vaccine program and an undisclosed company. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; edited by Cynthia Osterman)