Government policy - to provide AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan tomorrow

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

政府 あすにも台湾にアストラゼネカのワクチン提供する方針

2021年6月3日 18時57分

政府は新型コロナウイルスの感染が急拡大している台湾に対し、4日にもアストラゼネカのワクチン、およそ120万回分を提供する方針を固めました。

新型コロナウイルスワクチンをめぐり、政府は国内で必要な数量を上回る分をほかの国や地域に供給する方針で、菅総理大臣は2日開かれた「ワクチン・サミット」で3000万回分を供給する考えを表明しました。

こうした中、政府は5月中旬から感染が急拡大し接種の加速が課題となっている台湾に対し、4日にもワクチンを提供する方針を固めました。

提供されるのは国内では当面、公的な接種に使わない方針のアストラゼネカのワクチンで、およそ120万回分を輸送する方向で最終調整を進めています。

政府は中国が各国への積極的な供給を通じた「ワクチン外交」を展開していることも踏まえ、今後もワクチン供給を推進するとともに「コールドチェーン」と呼ばれる低温での輸送網を途上国に整備する支援にも取り組み、国際社会での存在感を示していきたい考えです。

Translation

The [Japanese] government had decided to provide about 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Taiwan on the 4th where the infection of the new coronavirus was spreading rapidly.

Regarding the new coronavirus vaccine, the government planned to supply to other countries and regions its vaccine that was more than was needed domestically, and Prime Minister Suga expressed his thoughts at the "Vaccine Summit" held on the 2^nd that he might supply 30 million doses.

As such, the government decided to provide some vaccine to Taiwan on the 4th, where the infection had spread rapidly since mid-May and  accelerated inoculation had become an issue.

About the offer for the time being in Japan, AstraZeneca's vaccine, which would not be used for public inoculation could be shipped out, and final adjustments were underway to deliver approximately 1.2 million doses.

Noting that China was developing "vaccine diplomacy" through making active supply to individual countries, the government would continue to promote vaccine supply and establish a low-temperature transportation network called "cold chain" as an effort to support the developing countries; and to show its presence in the international community.

              So, Japan is giving away its surplus vaccine to Taiwan. Although it is merely  1.2 million doses, it reflects a co-operating spirit between these two governments.