Former US Department of Defense official Randall Schriver is calling on the US to provide Taiwan with COVID-19 vaccines. His call comes as the Biden administration prepares to distribute 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to countries outside the US.
Schriver served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during the Trump administration. He now serves as chairman of the Washington, D.C. think tank the Project 2024 Institute.
In a statement Wednesday, Schriver said that while the US should give all of its allies and partners priority for vaccine distribution, Taiwan deserves special consideration. Schriver says that not only would giving Taiwan vaccines fulfill US responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act, but would also serve as a response to Chinese interference in Taiwan’s efforts to secure COVID-19 vaccines.
Schriver also said that Taiwan was quick to provide the US with key supplies early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when the US faced shortages. He said now that Taiwan faces its own critical moment in the pandemic, it needs US help, and the Biden administration should respond to Taiwan’s need.