Taiwan&nbsp;Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that his country&nbsp;worked with other democracies to help its diplomatic ally Paraguay get COVID-19 vaccines after China put pressure on the South American country to ditch Taipei in exchange for shots, and India stepped in to help.

Paraguay&nbsp;is one of only 15 countries that officially recognise Taipei over Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory.

Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen because she rejects its stance that the island is part of China.

It has poached seven of Taiwan's official allies since then,&nbsp;including Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

On Wednesday Taiwan's foreign minister said China was trying to woo&nbsp;Paraguay&nbsp;with the promise of badly needed vaccines.&nbsp;

"This is a period of time when we see Chinese 'vaccine diplomacy' has been flexing its muscles in many parts of world, especially in central and south America," Joseph Wu told reporters.&nbsp;

"The Chinese government was very active in saying... if the&nbsp;Paraguay&nbsp;government is willing to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, they will be able to get quite a few million vaccine doses from China," he added.

"It generated a lot of pressure on the government of President Mario Abdo Benítez and this also generated a lot of pressure on us to find the necessary support," Wu said, adding that&nbsp;Paraguay's political opposition was "very willing to link up with China".

Paraguay&nbsp;has reported 224,000 coronavirus infections and 4,500 deaths in a population of seven million.&nbsp;

Fatalities have risen alarmingly in recent weeks during a fresh wave of infections that have hammered its healthcare system.

There have been violent protests over the government's response as well as an ultimately failed attempt to impeach Abdo Benítez.&nbsp;

Wu said Taiwan had reached out to countries including Japan, the United States and India on the issue.

"In the last few weeks, we have been speaking to like-minded countries, including Japan, the United States, India etcetera, and India fortunately has been able to provide some COVAXIN vaccines to Paraguay," he said, referring to a shot developed by India's Bharat Biotech and a state research institute.

India has already shipped 100,000 doses to Paraguay and there will be another 100,000, Wu added.

Paraguay&nbsp;has also received 36,000 doses from AstraZeneca, 4,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and 20,000 of the Chinese Coronavac donated by Chile.&nbsp;

Abdo Benítez has said he hopes to secure enough vaccinations by the middle of the year. He blamed the lack of doses on delays in Covax, a mechanism supported by the World Health Organization to widen access to vaccines.

Washington is also looking at ways to help countries struggling to secure enough vaccine supply, Wu said.

China has been a crucial source of vaccines for many poorer nations especially with wealthier countries snapping up supplies of Western-made doses.

It has previously denied using vaccines as a diplomatic pressure device.

Taiwan -- population 23 million -- has been hailed as a global success story in containing the virus, with around 1,050 confirmed cases and 10 deaths.&nbsp;

But it has struggled to secure vaccines and has so far only received 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca purchased from the manufacturer and another 199,200 doses of the same vaccine via Covax.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that his country worked with other democracies to help its diplomatic ally Paraguay get COVID-19 vaccines after China put pressure on the South American country to ditch Taipei in exchange for shots, and India stepped in to help.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Wednesday that his country worked with other democracies to help its diplomatic ally Paraguay get COVID-19 vaccines after China put pressure on the South American country to ditch Taipei in exchange for shots, and India stepped in to help. Paraguay is one of only 15 countries that officially recognise Taipei over Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory. Beijing has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen because she rejects its stance that the island is part of China. It has poached seven of Taiwan's official allies since then, including Panama, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday Taiwan's foreign minister said China was trying to woo Paraguay with the promise of badly needed vaccines. "This is a period of time when we see Chinese 'vaccine diplomacy' has been flexing its muscles in many parts of world, especially in central and south America," Joseph Wu told reporters. "The Chinese government was very active in saying... if the Paraguay government is willing to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan, they will be able to get quite a few million vaccine doses from China," he added. "It generated a lot of pressure on the government of President Mario Abdo Benítez and this also generated a lot of pressure on us to find the necessary support," Wu said, adding that Paraguay's political opposition was "very willing to link up with China". Paraguay has reported 224,000 coronavirus infections and 4,500 deaths in a population of seven million. Fatalities have risen alarmingly in recent weeks during a fresh wave of infections that have hammered its healthcare system. There have been violent protests over the government's response as well as an ultimately failed attempt to impeach Abdo Benítez. Wu said Taiwan had reached out to countries including Japan, the United States and India on the issue. "In the last few weeks, we have been speaking to like-minded countries, including Japan, the United States, India etcetera, and India fortunately has been able to provide some COVAXIN vaccines to Paraguay," he said, referring to a shot developed by India's Bharat Biotech and a state research institute. India has already shipped 100,000 doses to Paraguay and there will be another 100,000, Wu added. Paraguay has also received 36,000 doses from AstraZeneca, 4,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and 20,000 of the Chinese Coronavac donated by Chile. Abdo Benítez has said he hopes to secure enough vaccinations by the middle of the year. He blamed the lack of doses on delays in Covax, a mechanism supported by the World Health Organization to widen access to vaccines. Washington is also looking at ways to help countries struggling to secure enough vaccine supply, Wu said. China has been a crucial source of vaccines for many poorer nations especially with wealthier countries snapping up supplies of Western-made doses. It has previously denied using vaccines as a diplomatic pressure device. Taiwan -- population 23 million -- has been hailed as a global success story in containing the virus, with around 1,050 confirmed cases and 10 deaths. But it has struggled to secure vaccines and has so far only received 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca purchased from the manufacturer and another 199,200 doses of the same vaccine via Covax.

Taiwan praises India for helping Paraguay get vaccines amid Chinese pressure

India, which has shipped critical supplies of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/five-indian-states-account-for-over-84-active-covid-19-infections-367381"> COVID-19</a> vaccines to nations globally, has said it stands ready to work with the United Nations and its agencies to ensure the doses are delivered to people of Syria facing a dire situation compounded by the pandemic and food insecurity.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly's high-level panel on the human rights situation in Syria on Tuesday, India's deputy permanent representative to the UN Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu said New Delhi&nbsp;continues to stand with the people of Syria in the grave hour of need.

India had extended $12 million in humanitarian assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels to Syria and last July the country had supplied more than 10 MT (metric tonnes) of medical supplies. Earlier this month, more than 2000 MT of food supplies were delivered to Syria.

"We also stand ready to work with the UN and its agencies to ensure COVID-19 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/Narendra-Modi-first-dose-coronavirus-take-the-vaccine-pm-modi-takes-first-dose-of-coronavirus-vaccine-at-aiims-delhi-366946">vaccines</a> can be brought to the aid and assistance of the people of Syria," Naidu said.

India's contribution towards providing critical supplies of the COVID-19 vaccines around the world are being widely applauded, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailing India for being a "global leader in pandemic response efforts" for having provided critical medicines, diagnostic kits, ventilators and personal protective equipment to more than 150 countries.

Under the initiative "vaccine maitri", which translates into vaccine friendship, India has been providing vaccines to the world. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had told the Security Council last month that while India is a significant source of supply to the COVAX, the global vaccine access facility spearheaded by World Health Organization, the country is also directly sending vaccines to friends and partners.

India, which has shipped critical supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to nations globally, has said it stands ready to work with the United Nations and its agencies to ensure the doses are delivered to people of Syria facing a dire situation compounded by the pandemic and food insecurity.

India, which has shipped critical supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to nations globally, has said it stands ready to work with the United Nations and its agencies to ensure the doses are delivered to people of Syria facing a dire situation compounded by the pandemic and food insecurity. Speaking at the UN General Assembly's high-level panel on the human rights situation in Syria on Tuesday, India's deputy permanent representative to the UN Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu said New Delhi continues to stand with the people of Syria in the grave hour of need. India had extended $12 million in humanitarian assistance through bilateral and multilateral channels to Syria and last July the country had supplied more than 10 MT (metric tonnes) of medical supplies. Earlier this month, more than 2000 MT of food supplies were delivered to Syria. "We also stand ready to work with the UN and its agencies to ensure COVID-19 vaccines can be brought to the aid and assistance of the people of Syria," Naidu said. India's contribution towards providing critical supplies of the COVID-19 vaccines around the world are being widely applauded, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailing India for being a "global leader in pandemic response efforts" for having provided critical medicines, diagnostic kits, ventilators and personal protective equipment to more than 150 countries. Under the initiative "vaccine maitri", which translates into vaccine friendship, India has been providing vaccines to the world. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had told the Security Council last month that while India is a significant source of supply to the COVAX, the global vaccine access facility spearheaded by World Health Organization, the country is also directly sending vaccines to friends and partners.

Ready to work with UN to ensure COVID-19 vaccine aid to Syria: India

At the meet on covid management led by India, Prime Minister Modi's proposals for visa regime for doctors, air ambulance pact has got support from all the participating countries including Pakistan. Indian initiative involved 10 countries in all--Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.

Seven of these, barring&nbsp;Mauritius and&nbsp;Seychelles are members of the SAARC grouping.

Indian Prime Minister had made five&nbsp;proposals in all. He said, "Can we consider creating a special visa scheme for our doctors and nurses, so that they can travel quickly within our region during health emergencies, on the request of the receiving country? Can our Civil Aviation ministries coordinate a regional Air Ambulance agreement for medical contingencies?".&nbsp;

The other three&nbsp;he pointed out, saying, "Can we create a regional platform for collating, compiling and studying data about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among our populations? Can we similarly create a regional network for promoting technology-assisted epidemiology, for preventing future pandemics? And, Beyond COVID-19, can we also share our successful public health policies and schemes?"

The proposals will be taken for a "structured discussion" for regional cooperation. The meet was a workshop on sharing best practices and took place at the level of Health Secretaries. Pakistan, which participated under SAARC umbrella, was represented by Special Assistant to Pak Prime Minister (SAPM) on health Faisal Sultan.

A source said, "All agreed that there was a need for such cooperation on a regional basis for fighting such pandemics."

All countries, barring of course Pakistan lauded India for sending covid vaccines. Pakistan did not request any India-made vaccine. This year, India gifted COVID&nbsp;vaccines to countries in the region. These are Bangladesh with 20 Lakhs doses, Myanmar with 17 Lakhs doses, Nepal with 10 Lakhs, Bhutan with 1.5 Lakhs, the Maldives with 1 Lakh, Mauritius with 1 Lakh, Seychelles with 50000, Sri Lanka with 5 Lakhs, and Afghanistan 5 Lakhs.

In March of Last year, the Indian Prime Minister called for a SAARC meet on the COVID pandemic. One of the key outcomes of the meet was the establishment of the SAARC emergency fund, with India contributing $10 million to it.

At the meet on covid management led by India, Prime Minister Modi's proposals for visa regime for doctors, air ambulance pact has got support from all the participating countries including Pakistan.

At the meet on covid management led by India, Prime Minister Modi's proposals for visa regime for doctors, air ambulance pact has got support from all the participating countries including Pakistan. Indian initiative involved 10 countries in all--Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. Seven of these, barring Mauritius and Seychelles are members of the SAARC grouping. Indian Prime Minister had made five proposals in all. He said, "Can we consider creating a special visa scheme for our doctors and nurses, so that they can travel quickly within our region during health emergencies, on the request of the receiving country? Can our Civil Aviation ministries coordinate a regional Air Ambulance agreement for medical contingencies?". The other three he pointed out, saying, "Can we create a regional platform for collating, compiling and studying data about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among our populations? Can we similarly create a regional network for promoting technology-assisted epidemiology, for preventing future pandemics? And, Beyond COVID-19, can we also share our successful public health policies and schemes?" The proposals will be taken for a "structured discussion" for regional cooperation. The meet was a workshop on sharing best practices and took place at the level of Health Secretaries. Pakistan, which participated under SAARC umbrella, was represented by Special Assistant to Pak Prime Minister (SAPM) on health Faisal Sultan. A source said, "All agreed that there was a need for such cooperation on a regional basis for fighting such pandemics." All countries, barring of course Pakistan lauded India for sending covid vaccines. Pakistan did not request any India-made vaccine. This year, India gifted COVID vaccines to countries in the region. These are Bangladesh with 20 Lakhs doses, Myanmar with 17 Lakhs doses, Nepal with 10 Lakhs, Bhutan with 1.5 Lakhs, the Maldives with 1 Lakh, Mauritius with 1 Lakh, Seychelles with 50000, Sri Lanka with 5 Lakhs, and Afghanistan 5 Lakhs. In March of Last year, the Indian Prime Minister called for a SAARC meet on the COVID pandemic. One of the key outcomes of the meet was the establishment of the SAARC emergency fund, with India contributing $10 million to it.

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