[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] China and Japan are competing in vaccine diplomacy targeting Southeast Asian countries.
According to the online media The Nation on the 5th, 500,000 doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine donated by China arrived in Thailand on the same day. The Nation reported that the total Sinovac vaccine doses donated by China to Thailand have reached 1 million doses.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Anutin Charnvirakul explained to the press on the 2nd that an additional 11 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine are scheduled to be imported from this month through August, with 2.5 million doses arriving in Thailand this month. Minister Anutin added, "500,000 doses will arrive on the 5th, 1 million doses in mid-month, and the remaining 1 million doses by the end of this month."
The Sinovac vaccines China plans to send by the end of this year are expected to total 17 million doses, including the 6 million doses already delivered to Thailand. Thailand plans to complete vaccinations for about 50 million people, approximately 70% of the total population of 70 million, by utilizing 100 million vaccine doses by the end of this year.
On the same day, Japan's public broadcaster NHK also reported that the Japanese government supplied 1.24 million doses of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine free of charge to Taiwan the day before and is considering providing vaccines to Vietnam as well.
Japan has secured additional Pfizer vaccines and officially approved the use of Moderna and AZ vaccines on the 21st of last month, easing vaccine supply concerns. Japan has secured 97 million doses of Pfizer vaccines and 25 million doses of Moderna vaccines, totaling 122 million doses, which exceeds the population aged 16 and over.
Accordingly, Japan decided to exclude the AZ vaccine from official vaccinations for the time being despite having approved its use. Japan contracted to import 120 million doses (60 million people) of the AZ vaccine, and some quantities have already been secured. Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu clearly stated at a press conference, "We want to firmly demonstrate Japan's leadership in the vaccine field," expressing his intention to strengthen vaccine diplomacy.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
