Taipei, July 11 (Reuters)-China distributor of BioNTech SE in Germany (22UAy.DE) He said on Sunday that he had signed a contract to provide Taiwan with 10 million COVID-19 vaccinations. This is part of a highly politicized process drawn out for the island to access the shot.

For months, the Taiwanese government has tried to buy vaccines directly from BioNTech, accusing China of claiming its territory as its own territory, denying the agreement that both sides planned to sign earlier this year. China has denied the accusations.

Last month, in the face of public pressure over the slow pace of Taiwan’s vaccination program, the government agreed to allow Terry Goo, the founder of Taiwan’s Foxconn billionaire. (2317.TW), And Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) will negotiate on behalf of the vaccine and the vaccine will be donated to the Taiwanese government for distribution.

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd (600196.SS)BioNTech has contracts to sell the COVID-19 vaccine in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, but Shot is sold to TSMC and Gou charities via the Hong Kong subsidiary of Fusex and a Taiwanese medical company. Said in a statement. ..

In a statement, Fosun International Chairman Wu Efan said, “This vaccine, co-developed by Fosun Pharmaceutical and BioNTech, can play an active role in the prevention and control of epidemics in Taiwan. I am very happy. “

Fosun said BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin said, “We are very grateful to be able to provide the people of Taiwan with a vaccine manufactured in Europe.”

Vaccine drama

However, both TSMC and Foxconn introduced their statement to Reuters early Sunday, stating that they were still in the process of signing the contract.

The Fosun International Statement referred to the “Taiwan region”. This does not mean that the island is another country, but is the term preferred by the Chinese government to claim sovereignty.

There was no immediate response from the Taiwanese government.

BioNTech, which developed the vaccine in collaboration with Pfizer (PFE.N)Also, did not immediately respond to the request for comment.

TSMC and Foxconn are major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier.

Gou and TSMC reached the first agreement with Fosun’s subsidiary this month on vaccines, sources told Reuters earlier. read more

The BioNTech vaccine drama transformed Taiwan and dominated the headlines. The Tzu Chi Foundation, a major Buddhist group in Taiwan, is also trying to buy shots. read more

The Chinese government has reiterated that if Taiwan needs a vaccine, it must respect commercial rules and do so through Fosun.

The German government is also involved, saying it is supporting direct negotiations between Taiwan and BioNTech.

In Taiwan, millions of vaccines are ordered primarily from Astra Zeneca Plc. (AZN.L) And Moderna Inc (MRNA.O), The United States and Japan have donated nearly 5 million doses to the island together to help speed up vaccination.

Approximately one-tenth of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people receive at least one of the two-shot regimens, but Taiwan’s own relatively small-scale domestic coronavirus outbreaks are now largely controlled.

Report by Ben Blanchard and Imou Lee. Additional report by Taipei Newsroom and Andrew Galbraith in Shanghai. Edited by Lincoln Feast, William Mallard, Emeria Sithole-Matarise

Our criteria: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.