Japan has once more donated over a million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan, its second such donation in less than two months. The flight carrying 1.13 million AstraZeneca doses landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport early Thursday afternoon.
Taiwan’s northern neighbor last donated COVID-19 vaccines on June 4, when the Japanese government sent 1.24 million AstraZeneca doses.
Taiwan’s representative in Japan, Frank Hsieh, expressed his gratitude on Facebook after watching the plane depart from Narita International Airport on Thursday afternoon. He thanked Japan for the donation and said he hopes that “every dose will be cherished”.
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday that Taiwan was quick to offer support after a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck Japan in 2011. He says now that Taiwan is facing difficulty securing COVID-19 vaccines, it is Japan’s turn to help.