Taiwan is a basket case ...

[GentleGeorge]

Prof Steve Tsang, of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, laid out Taiwan's dilemma.

He said the situation was one in which China could not lose and Taiwan could not win.

If Taiwan accepts Chinese vaccines, it could appear as though Beijing is more able to look after the people of Taiwan than the island's leaders.

If Taiwan declines the jabs, Taipei might look as though it is disregarding the health of its own population

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57246914

[aw451]

Think this belings to the China thread. They are the one who forced BioNTech to cancel a shipment to Taiwan

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/...ts-2021-05-26/

[TheBrit]

A more appropriate thread tile would be "GentleGeorge is a basket case".

[hullexile]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57246914

I really don't think there is a dilemma for Taiwan. Order more vaccines and see if China blocks them again.

[MABinPengChau]

Vaccines have long ago been ordered, primarily Astra Zeneca. However, as I have said before, other countries had more pressing needs up until now so faced with worldwide shortage, countries with more cases were the priority. Now Japan says it will send some AZ as it has 400 million doses of vaccine, more than enough to share.

I don't know a single TW person who would take Sinovac. Really no point in getting any...

[MABinPengChau]

10 million AZ ordered and a bunch of Moderna. Can't find the UN link showing every country in the world and the vaccines each one has ordered but these are longstanding orders...

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4206358

[GentleGeorge]

I really don't think there is a dilemma for Taiwan. Order more vaccines and see if China blocks them again.

Well I agree, but it's clearly a propaganda victory for the mainland and no wonder they are milking it!

[hullexile]

Well I agree, but it's clearly a propaganda victory for the mainland and no wonder they are milking it!

I don't think the vast majority of people outside of China would see it that way. Just reminds them how China stopped Taiwan getting vaccines before.

It is too soon and too blatant to be a victory.

[GentleGeorge]

I don't think the vast majority of people outside of China would see it that way. Just reminds them how China stopped Taiwan getting vaccines before.

It is too soon and too blatant to be a victory.

The BBC's entire business model these days seems to be bashing China, and even they have acknowledged it.

Sorry, but China has won this one.

[Aramis]

Taiwan made a bet on their own vaccine and ended up losing that bet. Looks like they'll try to roll them out in July. Both China and Taiwan play their political game. It's ridiculous to say no one in Taiwan would take Sinovac, just like here there are pro China people there though they are a minority.

China looked petty when they blocked vaccines to Taiwan and now they are taking the opportunity to throw a bit of shade on Taiwan with this. There's nothing unexpected from either side. I don't see anyone winning anything there.