MOFA denies rumor that Taiwan only asked Japan for 1.24 million AZ doses

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied a rumor that Taiwan only asked Japan for 1.24 million COVID vaccine doses. The rumor, which cites the remarks of Japan’s foreign minister, claims that Taiwan’s government only asked for a small vaccine supply to tide the country over until July, when its domestic vaccines would be ready to go. In a statement, MOFA said the rumor is a clear distortion of the Japanese official’s words. Chuang Jui-hsiung DPP lawmaker It claims that during an interpellation session, Japan’s foreign minister Motegi Toshimitsu said that Taiwan believed it would have enough vaccines, and that Taiwan said 1.24 million vaccines from Japan would be enough. Speaking at the Legislative Yuan, the DPP’s Chuang Jui-shiung was visibly irate over misinformation about Japan’s vaccine donation. Last Friday, Japan shipped 1.24 million COVID vaccines to Taiwan, in an act of friendship. But in the wake of that donation, the internet has been abuzz with rumors and misinformation. On social media, one internet user asked why Japan donated only 1.24 million doses when it had 30 million unused AstraZeneca vaccines. The user claimed that Japan’s foreign minister had confirmed as such during an interpellation session last week. According to this internet user, the minister said he’d been told by Taiwan’s government that domestic vaccines would be ready in July, and so only a small shipment of vaccines would be needed for now. But footage of the remarks shows a different picture. Motegi Toshimitsu (June 3) Japanese foreign minister Our understanding is that Taiwan’s domestic vaccine production system will become more mature after July. However, at present, Taiwan is facing an urgent need. Taiwan’s foreign ministry has issued a statement, rejecting the claims in the social media post. But the post has already had a wide circulation, shared by people including Hsinchu Deputy Commissioner Chen Chien-hsien. Chuang Jui-hsiung DPP lawmaker For a deputy commissioner, or for someone in the police force, to spread something like this during a pandemic – in Taiwan, we’d call them people with bad intentions. Su Tseng-chang Premier Minister Hsu will investigate the issue. He knows very clearly what is true and what is false. Premier Su Tseng-chang said the incident would be investigated, and that those who generate fake news would be prosecuted as part of the government’s zero-tolerance policy for disinformation.