China Threatens to Withhold Vaccines to Paraguay Unless It Severs Ties With Taiwan

China Threatens to Withhold Vaccines to Paraguay Unless It Severs Ties With Taiwan
A medical officer prepares a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine during a mass vaccination program in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Mar. 2, 2021. Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
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On March 23, Alexander Tah-ray Yui, head of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Republic of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, revealed that China’s vaccine makers would not sell their shots to Paraguay unless it agreed to sever its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, according to the Taipei-based Central News Agency (CNA).

The Paraguayan side condemned the action, saying that Chinese vaccine manufacturers were attempting to hurt its sovereignty; and contended that vaccines should not be reduced to a political tool, CNA reported.

Frank Yue
Frank Yue
Author
Frank Yue is a Canada-based journalist for The Epoch Times who covers China-related news. He also holds an M.A. in English language and literature from Tianjin Foreign Studies University, China.
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