TSMC and Foxconn Secure Pfizer Vaccines on Behalf of Taiwan Government Amid Chinese Interference (Comprehensive)

BioNTech and Pushing Medical Group to Sell Up to 10 Million Doses
TSMC and Foxconn Likely to Donate Vaccines to Government After Purchase

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Amid China's interference causing difficulties for the Taiwanese government in securing vaccines, Taiwan's largest IT companies, TSMC and Foxconn, are set to purchase Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines directly on behalf of the government.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 11th (local time), negotiations for securing Pfizer vaccines led by TSMC and Foxconn on behalf of the Taiwanese government are nearing finalization. The amount of vaccines secured is expected to reach up to 10 million doses.

German pharmaceutical company BioNTech, together with Chinese pharmaceutical firm Fuxing Pharmaceutical Group, issued a joint statement on the same day announcing plans to sell 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccines to TSMC and Foxconn.

According to the statement, TSMC and Foxconn are expected to donate the secured Pfizer vaccines back to the Taiwanese government.

In the statement, BioNTech expressed, "We are very pleased to be able to supply vaccines produced in Europe directly to Taiwan."

Fuxing Pharmaceutical Group also added, "We will strive to supply vaccines as soon as possible in cooperation with BioNTech."

However, the companies did not disclose specific supply dates.

Spokespersons for TSMC and Foxconn confirmed that only the final signing remains regarding these negotiations.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Currently, Taiwan is experiencing low vaccination rates due to a shortage of vaccine supplies. As of the 9th, the first-dose vaccination rate relative to Taiwan's total population stands at 13.79%, significantly lagging behind South Korea (about 30%) and Japan (about 28%).

If the vaccine procurement negotiations by TSMC and Foxconn are finalized, it is expected to ease the Taiwanese government's vaccine supply challenges.

Previously, the Taiwanese government had been negotiating with BioNTech since early this year to purchase Pfizer vaccines directly but failed to reach a final agreement.

Taiwan has claimed that the breakdown of negotiations was due to interference by the Chinese government. Although China announced plans to donate vaccines directly to Taiwan, Taiwan rejected this, calling it a "hypocritical act disguised as goodwill" and stated it would not accept vaccines from Chinese authorities.

On the other hand, the Chinese government has completely denied allegations of obstructing negotiations.

China has also emphasized that if Taiwan wants to purchase Pfizer vaccines, it must do so through Fuxing Pharmaceutical Group, which holds exclusive rights to supply Pfizer vaccines to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

This stance is analyzed as reflecting China's "One China" policy, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory and does not recognize Taiwan's independent sovereignty.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

WSJ reported that Fuxing Pharmaceutical Group's reiteration in the joint statement with BioNTech that "Fuxing Pharmaceutical Group holds exclusive rights to supply Pfizer vaccines to the Taiwan region" implies viewing Taiwan as a state subordinate to China.

Meanwhile, if the vaccine procurement negotiations by TSMC and Foxconn are finalized, the Taiwanese government is expected to gain political justification for not directly securing vaccines from the Chinese government. Taiwan has preferred to secure Pfizer vaccines directly from European factories without passing through mainland China.

According to Fuxing Pharmaceutical Group, the Pfizer vaccines secured by TSMC and Foxconn will be shipped directly from European vaccine production plants to Taiwan without passing through mainland China.