China on Thursday (December 22) announced that it is making arrangements for German expatriates to receive the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.&nbsp;This comes after Germany said that it has sent a batch of mRNA vaccines to China. During German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Beijing, a deal was reached between the two nations under which China agreed to allow German nationals in China to receive the mRNA vaccine.

Watch | Gravitas: China's bogus vaccines: How China fooled the world

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As per Reuters, Scholz's also urged Beijing to allow Chinese citizens and other foreign nationals to avail the shot. However, initially, the vaccines will be administered to German expatriates.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that it is "supporting China&nbsp;to focus its efforts on vaccinating people at the highest risk across the country, and we continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system".

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"WHO is supporting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#China</a> to focus its efforts on vaccinating people at the highest risk across the country, and we continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system"-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>
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Up till now, China has only allowed its own vaccines for the general public. Vaccinations developed overseas are not available and only inactivated shots of Sinopharm, Sinovac's Coronavac and other domestically developed options are available.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/even-as-covid-19-cases-spike-caccine-hesistancy-plagues-china-544348">Even as Covid cases spike, vaccine hesitancy plagues China; experts predict 3 waves of infections in winter</a>

These would be the first mRNA vaccines available in China. mRNA vaccines are generally considered to be the most efficient against the deadly virus.

Faced with a huge surge in cases following its easing of stringent zero-Covid restrictions, cities in China have also begun distributing free fever and cold drugs to the public, in order to deal with a spike in demand for the medicines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-is-china-a-threat-to-the-world-beijings-new-covid-wave-a-wild-card-warn-experts-544965">Explained: Is China a threat to the world? Beijing's new Covid wave a 'wild card', warn experts</a>

As per Global Times, the market regulator in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province has distributed 73,030 fever medicines to local residents with plans to distribute more. Dongguan in South China's Guangdong Province will be distributing 100,000 ibuprofen tablets. &nbsp;Zhengzhou, Shangqiu, Zhoukou and a number of other cities have also handed out anti-epidemic drugs.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China on Thursday (December 22) announced that it is making arrangements for German expatriates to receive the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This comes after Germany said that it has sent a batch of mRNA vaccines to China.

China on Thursday (December 22) announced that it is making arrangements for German expatriates to receive the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This comes after Germany said that it has sent a batch of mRNA vaccines to China. During German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to Beijing, a deal was reached between the two nations under which China agreed to allow German nationals in China to receive the mRNA vaccine. Watch | Gravitas: China's bogus vaccines: How China fooled the world As per Reuters, Scholz's also urged Beijing to allow Chinese citizens and other foreign nationals to avail the shot. However, initially, the vaccines will be administered to German expatriates. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that it is "supporting China to focus its efforts on vaccinating people at the highest risk across the country, and we continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system". "WHO is supporting #China to focus its efforts on vaccinating people at the highest risk across the country, and we continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system"-@DrTedros #COVID19 — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) December 21, 2022 × Up till now, China has only allowed its own vaccines for the general public. Vaccinations developed overseas are not available and only inactivated shots of Sinopharm, Sinovac's Coronavac and other domestically developed options are available. Also read | Even as Covid cases spike, vaccine hesitancy plagues China; experts predict 3 waves of infections in winter These would be the first mRNA vaccines available in China. mRNA vaccines are generally considered to be the most efficient against the deadly virus. Faced with a huge surge in cases following its easing of stringent zero-Covid restrictions, cities in China have also begun distributing free fever and cold drugs to the public, in order to deal with a spike in demand for the medicines. Also read | Explained: Is China a threat to the world? Beijing's new Covid wave a 'wild card', warn experts As per Global Times, the market regulator in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province has distributed 73,030 fever medicines to local residents with plans to distribute more. Dongguan in South China's Guangdong Province will be distributing 100,000 ibuprofen tablets. Zhengzhou, Shangqiu, Zhoukou and a number of other cities have also handed out anti-epidemic drugs. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China accepts Germany's mRNA COVID vaccines as cases spike, distributes free fever, cold medicines

The foreign ministry of China stated that an agreement was reached between their country and Germany to allow German nationals to use "German vaccines" in China, days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had stated that German expatriates would be able to use BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.

While speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “China and Germany have reached an agreement on providing German vaccines for German nationals in China, and relevant arrangements will be discussed and determined by the two sides through diplomatic channels.”

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-economic-chiefs-hail-chinas-decision-of-relaxing-covid-19-restrictions-541573">Global economic chiefs hail China’s decision of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions</a>

The countries were expected to reach such an agreement as German Chancellor Scholz, during his visit to Beijing on November 4, had announced an agreement which will let the German expatriates use the COVID-19 vaccine made by German company BioNTech SE in China.

The COVID-19 vaccine of BioNTech will be the first non-Chinese Covid vaccine which will be administered in China.

WATCH|

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However, the vaccine will only be administered to German nationals as the Chinese government has so far insisted on administering only those vaccines which are domestically produced.

Recently, Germany permitted the administration of the Chinese Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to Chinese nationals residing in the European country, a move that Mao said was welcomed by the Chinese government.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The foreign ministry of China stated that an agreement was reached between their country and Germany to allow German nationals to use "German vaccines" in China, days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had stated that German expatriates would be able to use BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine.

The foreign ministry of China stated that an agreement was reached between their country and Germany to allow German nationals to use "German vaccines" in China, days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had stated that German expatriates would be able to use BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine. While speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “China and Germany have reached an agreement on providing German vaccines for German nationals in China, and relevant arrangements will be discussed and determined by the two sides through diplomatic channels.” ALSO READ| Global economic chiefs hail China’s decision of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions The countries were expected to reach such an agreement as German Chancellor Scholz, during his visit to Beijing on November 4, had announced an agreement which will let the German expatriates use the COVID-19 vaccine made by German company BioNTech SE in China. The COVID-19 vaccine of BioNTech will be the first non-Chinese Covid vaccine which will be administered in China. WATCH| × However, the vaccine will only be administered to German nationals as the Chinese government has so far insisted on administering only those vaccines which are domestically produced. Recently, Germany permitted the administration of the Chinese Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to Chinese nationals residing in the European country, a move that Mao said was welcomed by the Chinese government. (With inputs from agencies)

Beijing agrees to provide "German vaccines" to German expatriates in China

This is the age of “vaccine diplomacy.” It is also the era of its bitter, mudslinging opposite.

For months, Taiwan has been unable to purchase doses of the BioNTech <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">coronavirus vaccine</a>, and the island’s leaders blame “Chinese intervention.” China, which regards Taiwan as its own territory, calls this accusation “fabricated out of nothing.”

It is unclear what steps if any, the government in Beijing has taken to disrupt Taiwan’s dealings with BioNTech, the German drugmaker that developed the vaccine with Pfizer. BioNTech declined to comment.

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But the crux of the problem is that a Chinese company claims the exclusive commercial rights to distribute BioNTech’s vaccine in Taiwan. And for many people in the self-governing democracy, buying shots from a mainland Chinese business is simply unpalatable.

The impasse is exacerbating Taiwan’s vaccine shortage as the island confronts its first major outbreak of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> since the start of the pandemic. It is a bleak illustration of how deeply entrenched the long-running conflict across the Taiwan Strait has become, with a degree of mutual distrust that not even a global medical emergency can allay.

Beijing’s efforts to stand between Taiwan and the wider world began spilling into public health a long time ago. China has for years blocked the island from participating in the World Health Assembly, the policy body of the World Health Organization.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-asia-nominee-says-us-should-develop-taiwan-ties-in-every-sector-391779">Biden's Asia nominee says US should develop Taiwan ties in every sector</a>

China has a say in Taiwan’s inoculation campaign because BioNTech last year partnered with a Shanghai company, Fosun Pharma, to distribute its COVID vaccine in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. BioNTech’s partner in the United States, the European Union and other places is Pfizer.

China says Taiwan is flouting this arrangement by trying to buy doses directly from BioNTech. Taiwan says it respects the companies’ partnership but hopes their relationship will not get in the way of the island’s vaccine purchases.

Beijing also warned against “meddling in China’s internal affairs” after Japan said it was donating 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses to Taiwan. Chinese officials were similarly peeved this month when three US&nbsp;senators visited the island to announce a donation of 750,000 doses. On Tuesday, Taiwan said 28 Chinese military aircraft entered the island’s southwestern air defence identification zone, the largest such show of force in months.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-massed-plane-incursion-near-taiwan-china-says-must-respond-to-collusion-391791">After massed plane incursion near Taiwan, China says must respond to 'collusion'</a>

As COVID infections have spread in Taiwan, Chinese representatives have accused the island’s leaders of putting politics above health by refusing to accept Chinese-made vaccines. Chinese state news media has underlined the point by highlighting the “Taiwan compatriots” who have gotten vaccinated in China.

“On the vaccine issue or the pandemic issue, I think China is trying to exploit any opportunity they can have,” said Lee Che-chuan of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a think tank funded by Taiwan’s government.

Beijing, Lee said, is telling Taiwan, “You are part of China. I can give you vaccines. But if you want to purchase them from some other countries, you have a political purpose: You’re trying to indicate you are independent from China.”

Taiwan’s inoculation efforts have taken on greater urgency since a wave of Covid&nbsp;cases caused the island to enter a soft lockdown last month. The government has placed orders with AstraZeneca, Moderna and two domestic vaccine makers. But shipments have been slow to materialize. Less than 5 per cent of the island’s 23.5 million people have been vaccinated so far.

Taiwan began talking with BioNTech about buying 5 million doses in August, the island’s health minister, Chen Shih-chung, said during a recent news conference. The two sides had largely agreed on a contract by December, according to Chen. On Jan. 8, BioNTech approved Taiwan’s draft news releases announcing the deal in Chinese and English.

But four hours later, BioNTech came back with a request, Chen said. The company wanted the word “country” in the Chinese-language news release to be replaced with “Taiwan.”

Beijing is extremely sensitive to any suggestion that Taiwan is an autonomous nation.

Taiwanese officials agreed to make the change, Chen said. But BioNTech said it needed to consider the matter further. The deal has been on hold ever since.

“It wasn’t because of a problem within the contract, but rather a problem outside the contract,” Chen said.

The chief executive of Fosun Pharma, BioNTech’s partner for Greater China, recently told China’s Xinhua state news agency that the company would gladly supply vaccines to “Taiwan compatriots.”

Whether Taiwan would accept those doses is more complicated. Taiwanese law forbids the import of Chinese-made vaccines. But Chen suggested Wednesday that Taiwan would be open to importing BioNTech shots if Fosun were acting only as their distributor, not manufacturer. Fosun did not respond to a request for comment.

Recently, discussions have taken place about a vaccine deal for Taiwan that would involve not only BioNTech and Fosun but also Zuellig Pharma, a Swiss-owned health services, cold storage and logistics company, according to two people familiar with the matter. Such a deal might allow BioNTech to honor its partnership with Fosun while also satisfying Taiwanese authorities by reducing Fosun’s role.

Zuellig has partnered with Moderna to supply Moderna’s vaccine in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. A Zuellig spokesperson declined to comment, as did Taiwan’s central epidemic command center.

BioNTech and Fosun have already delivered vaccines from Germany to Hong Kong and Macao, and they are preparing to manufacture BioNTech’s vaccine at a Fosun facility for the China market. Fosun Pharma’s parent company is Fosun International, a Shanghai-based conglomerate with interests in insurance, property, fashion, retail, tourism and more.

In a poll conducted in late May by researchers at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, three-quarters of respondents said they would not take a Chinese vaccine. More than half, though, said they would receive a European or US&nbsp;vaccine purchased through a Chinese distributor.

Germany’s de facto embassy in Taiwan, the German Institute Taipei, said this month that it “tried hard” to facilitate communication between BioNTech and Taiwanese authorities. But it is uncertain how much Germany’s government is able or willing to help broker a deal, given the risk of angering Beijing. A spokesperson for the German Institute Taipei declined to comment.

“China’s vaccine strategy goes beyond just economic interest,” said Elena Meyer-Clement, who studies Chinese politics and business at the Free University of Berlin. “It has become a geopolitical question, which means you can rely on the fact that the political leadership in Beijing keeps an eye on these deals.”

Meyer-Clement said she believed that BioNTech had tried selling vaccines directly to Taiwan in good faith, not to deliberately sidestep its agreement with Fosun Pharma.

“If they had refused to even attempt it, it would have been tantamount to self-censorship,” she said. “I think it was really just about getting vaccines to Taiwan.”

Still, she said BioNTech was naive to give initial signoff to a news release that used the word “country” in the Taiwan context.

“It’s something someone with experience dealing with Taiwan should have known,” she said.

This is the age of “vaccine diplomacy.” It is also the era of its bitter, mudslinging opposite. For months, Taiwan has been unable to purchase doses of the BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, and the island’s leaders blame “Chinese intervention.

This is the age of “vaccine diplomacy.” It is also the era of its bitter, mudslinging opposite. For months, Taiwan has been unable to purchase doses of the BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, and the island’s leaders blame “Chinese intervention.” China, which regards Taiwan as its own territory, calls this accusation “fabricated out of nothing.” It is unclear what steps if any, the government in Beijing has taken to disrupt Taiwan’s dealings with BioNTech, the German drugmaker that developed the vaccine with Pfizer. BioNTech declined to comment. But the crux of the problem is that a Chinese company claims the exclusive commercial rights to distribute BioNTech’s vaccine in Taiwan. And for many people in the self-governing democracy, buying shots from a mainland Chinese business is simply unpalatable. The impasse is exacerbating Taiwan’s vaccine shortage as the island confronts its first major outbreak of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. It is a bleak illustration of how deeply entrenched the long-running conflict across the Taiwan Strait has become, with a degree of mutual distrust that not even a global medical emergency can allay. Beijing’s efforts to stand between Taiwan and the wider world began spilling into public health a long time ago. China has for years blocked the island from participating in the World Health Assembly, the policy body of the World Health Organization. Also read | Biden's Asia nominee says US should develop Taiwan ties in every sector China has a say in Taiwan’s inoculation campaign because BioNTech last year partnered with a Shanghai company, Fosun Pharma, to distribute its COVID vaccine in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. BioNTech’s partner in the United States, the European Union and other places is Pfizer. China says Taiwan is flouting this arrangement by trying to buy doses directly from BioNTech. Taiwan says it respects the companies’ partnership but hopes their relationship will not get in the way of the island’s vaccine purchases. Beijing also warned against “meddling in China’s internal affairs” after Japan said it was donating 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses to Taiwan. Chinese officials were similarly peeved this month when three US senators visited the island to announce a donation of 750,000 doses. On Tuesday, Taiwan said 28 Chinese military aircraft entered the island’s southwestern air defence identification zone, the largest such show of force in months. Also read | After massed plane incursion near Taiwan, China says must respond to 'collusion' As COVID infections have spread in Taiwan, Chinese representatives have accused the island’s leaders of putting politics above health by refusing to accept Chinese-made vaccines. Chinese state news media has underlined the point by highlighting the “Taiwan compatriots” who have gotten vaccinated in China. “On the vaccine issue or the pandemic issue, I think China is trying to exploit any opportunity they can have,” said Lee Che-chuan of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a think tank funded by Taiwan’s government. Beijing, Lee said, is telling Taiwan, “You are part of China. I can give you vaccines. But if you want to purchase them from some other countries, you have a political purpose: You’re trying to indicate you are independent from China.” Taiwan’s inoculation efforts have taken on greater urgency since a wave of Covid cases caused the island to enter a soft lockdown last month. The government has placed orders with AstraZeneca, Moderna and two domestic vaccine makers. But shipments have been slow to materialize. Less than 5 per cent of the island’s 23.5 million people have been vaccinated so far. Taiwan began talking with BioNTech about buying 5 million doses in August, the island’s health minister, Chen Shih-chung, said during a recent news conference. The two sides had largely agreed on a contract by December, according to Chen. On Jan. 8, BioNTech approved Taiwan’s draft news releases announcing the deal in Chinese and English. But four hours later, BioNTech came back with a request, Chen said. The company wanted the word “country” in the Chinese-language news release to be replaced with “Taiwan.” Beijing is extremely sensitive to any suggestion that Taiwan is an autonomous nation. Taiwanese officials agreed to make the change, Chen said. But BioNTech said it needed to consider the matter further. The deal has been on hold ever since. “It wasn’t because of a problem within the contract, but rather a problem outside the contract,” Chen said. The chief executive of Fosun Pharma, BioNTech’s partner for Greater China, recently told China’s Xinhua state news agency that the company would gladly supply vaccines to “Taiwan compatriots.” Whether Taiwan would accept those doses is more complicated. Taiwanese law forbids the import of Chinese-made vaccines. But Chen suggested Wednesday that Taiwan would be open to importing BioNTech shots if Fosun were acting only as their distributor, not manufacturer. Fosun did not respond to a request for comment. Recently, discussions have taken place about a vaccine deal for Taiwan that would involve not only BioNTech and Fosun but also Zuellig Pharma, a Swiss-owned health services, cold storage and logistics company, according to two people familiar with the matter. Such a deal might allow BioNTech to honor its partnership with Fosun while also satisfying Taiwanese authorities by reducing Fosun’s role. Zuellig has partnered with Moderna to supply Moderna’s vaccine in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. A Zuellig spokesperson declined to comment, as did Taiwan’s central epidemic command center. BioNTech and Fosun have already delivered vaccines from Germany to Hong Kong and Macao, and they are preparing to manufacture BioNTech’s vaccine at a Fosun facility for the China market. Fosun Pharma’s parent company is Fosun International, a Shanghai-based conglomerate with interests in insurance, property, fashion, retail, tourism and more. In a poll conducted in late May by researchers at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, three-quarters of respondents said they would not take a Chinese vaccine. More than half, though, said they would receive a European or US vaccine purchased through a Chinese distributor. Germany’s de facto embassy in Taiwan, the German Institute Taipei, said this month that it “tried hard” to facilitate communication between BioNTech and Taiwanese authorities. But it is uncertain how much Germany’s government is able or willing to help broker a deal, given the risk of angering Beijing. A spokesperson for the German Institute Taipei declined to comment. “China’s vaccine strategy goes beyond just economic interest,” said Elena Meyer-Clement, who studies Chinese politics and business at the Free University of Berlin. “It has become a geopolitical question, which means you can rely on the fact that the political leadership in Beijing keeps an eye on these deals.” Meyer-Clement said she believed that BioNTech had tried selling vaccines directly to Taiwan in good faith, not to deliberately sidestep its agreement with Fosun Pharma. “If they had refused to even attempt it, it would have been tantamount to self-censorship,” she said. “I think it was really just about getting vaccines to Taiwan.” Still, she said BioNTech was naive to give initial signoff to a news release that used the word “country” in the Taiwan context. “It’s something someone with experience dealing with Taiwan should have known,” she said.

Taiwan wants German vaccines. China may be standing in its way.

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China accepts Germany's mRNA COVID vaccines as cases spike, distributes free fever, cold medicines

Beijing agrees to provide "German vaccines" to German expatriates in China

Taiwan wants German vaccines. China may be standing in its way.